Method for controlling mobile communications

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling mobile communications involves establishing an RFID connection between an RFID tag disposed on or at a predefined location inside a cabin area of a vehicle and an RFID reader attached to a mobile communications device. Upon breaking the RFID connection, an application resident on the device recognizes that the device is no located in the predefined location. A message is automatically sent to an entity outside of the vehicle, where the message indicates that the device is no longer located at the predefined location inside the vehicle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/100,858, filed May 4, 2011, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to methods for controllingmobile communications.

BACKGROUND

Cellular technology has enabled users of mobile communications devicesto establish voice and/or data connections with other mobile devicesand/or landline units. An example of a voice connection includes sendingand/or receiving voice calls to/from another communications device. Adata connection may include, for example, sending and/or receiving textmessages, and this type of messaging is often referred to as “textmessaging” or simply “texting”.

Establishing voice and/or data connections via the mobile communicationsdevice typically requires at least some attention from the user. Forinstance, the use of at least one of the user's hands may be required toperform one or more tasks associated with texting. In some instances,the user may be engaged in another activity (such as when operatingmachinery) while attempting to establish a voice and/or data connection,and thus the user's attention may be diverted from the other activity.

SUMMARY

A method for controlling mobile communications involves establishing anRFID connection between i) an RFID tag operatively disposed on or at apredefined location inside a cabin area of a vehicle and ii) an RFIDreader operatively attached to a mobile communications device. Uponbreaking the RFID connection, the method further involves recognizing,via an application resident on the mobile communications device, thatthe mobile communications device is no longer located at thepredetermined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle. A messageis automatically sent to an entity outside of the vehicle, where themessage indicates that the mobile communications device is no longerlocated at the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of examples of the present disclosure willbecome apparent by reference to the following detailed description anddrawings, in which like reference numerals correspond to similar, thoughperhaps not identical, components. For the sake of brevity, referencenumerals or features having a previously described function may or maynot be described in connection with other drawings in which they appear.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting an example of a system forcontrolling mobile communications;

FIG. 2 semi-schematically depicts an example of a cabin area of avehicle showing a mobile communications device that is then-currentlypositioned inside an example of a predefined location in the cabin areaof the vehicle;

FIG. 3 semi-schematically depicts an example of a cabin area of avehicle showing the mobile communications device not located in theexample of the predefined location depicted in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 semi-schematically depict examples of a cabin area ofa vehicle showing the mobile communications device located in otherexamples of a predefined location in the cabin area of the vehicle;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are flow diagrams depicting examples of a method forcontrolling mobile communications; and

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram depicting an example of a method forcommunicating a location of a mobile device inside a vehicle to anoutside entity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Many mobile vehicle drivers are in possession of a mobile communicationsdevice while driving. In some cases, the mobile device may be stowed inthe driver's pocket, purse, briefcase, backpack, or the like while thedriver is physically engaged in the driving activities of the vehicle.In instances where the driver receives an incoming call, the driver mayattempt to remove the device from its stowed position (e.g., from insidethe driver's pocket) and answer the call while simultaneously attemptingto drive the vehicle. In other cases, the driver may place the mobiledevice somewhere inside the vehicle interior, such as in a compartment(e.g., a glove box), in a tray (e.g., one that may be defined in acenter console between the driver and passenger seats), on a passengerseat, on the dashboard, or the like. Upon receiving an incoming call ortext message while driving the vehicle, for example, the driver mayattempt to retrieve the device from its current position and then, ifthe retrieval is successful, answer the call or read/answer the incomingtext.

Examples of the methods disclosed herein may be used to discourage adriver from using his/her mobile communications device in anon-hands-free manner while operating a vehicle. The non-hands-freemanner may include answering an incoming voice call by placing the phoneadjacent the driver's ear, by typing a text message on a keypad, or bysome other function that involves the user's hands. In some cases, themethod discourages the driver from using the device in a mannerrequiring the use of the driver's hands by automatically adjusting afunctionality of an audio component disposed inside the vehicle inresponse to recognizing, via a telematics unit, that the device is notlocated in or at a predefined location inside a cabin area of thevehicle. In other cases, the method discourages the driver from usingthe device in a manner requiring the use of the driver's hands byautomatically sending a message from the device to an outside entity(such as, e.g., a cellular phone of the driver's parent, a calling orcomputing device associated with a public safety facility, such as apolice station or a fire station, etc.) upon recognizing, via anapplication resident on the mobile device, that the device is notlocated in or at the predefined location inside the cabin area of thevehicle. The message sent to the outside entity contains informationthat may apprise the outside entity that the driver is then-currentlyusing his/her device in a non-hands-free manner while driving.

The predefined location may be located anywhere inside the cabin area;and this location may, in an example, be capable of, or evenspecifically designed to hold the mobile device. The predefined locationmay be formed as an integral part of the cabin area of the vehicle(e.g., a cup holder, door pocket, glove box, etc.), or may be aremovable article configured to receive the mobile device, and thisarticle may be received in a predefined location inside the vehicle. Inthis example, the predefined location may be referred to herein as a“mobile device holder” or simply a “holder”. In yet another example, thepredefined location may be a component inside the cabin area of thevehicle that the mobile device may be connected to, such as, e.g., acharging port disposed on the dashboard, center console, or the like.

It is believed that by tracking the location of the device (e.g., bydetecting when the device is no longer located at/in the predefinedlocation (such as in the holder)), the vehicle driver is less likely touse the mobile device while concurrently operating (e.g., driving) thevehicle. It is further believed that the vehicle driver may find thatthe automatic adjustment to the functionality of the audio component orthe message automatically sent to an outside entity, both of which werementioned above, may be frustrating enough for the vehicle driver toprevent the driver from wanting to remove his/her mobile device from thepredefined location while driving.

It is to be understood that the examples of the methods described hereinmay be used when the user is engaged in an activity other than oneinvolving the mobile communications device. An example of such anactivity includes driving a mobile vehicle. Other activities may alsoapply, such as operating other machinery, performing a physicalactivity, and/or any other activity that requires a user's attention. Itis to be understood that the examples of the method involving adjustingthe audio component may be applied for activities other than driving amobile vehicle so long as the other activities utilize an audiocomponent.

Additionally, the adjustment of the functionality of the audio componentand/or the message automatically sent to an outside entity allows theuser to focus on the activity that he/she is then-currently engaged in,at least in part because distractions that may be associated with use ofthe mobile device in a non-hands-free manner are reduced or eveneliminated. In some cases, for example, each time the user removes thedevice from the predefined location (e.g., from the holder), the audiocomponent is automatically adjusted until, for example, the user placesthe device back to the predefined location (e.g., back in the holder).Adjustments to the audio component may also be reversed via other means,which will be described in further detail below. In other cases, eachtime the user removes the device from the predefined location, a messageis automatically sent to an entity outside of the vehicle. As previouslymentioned, the user may find that the adjustments to the audio componentand/or the automatic transmission of a message outside of the vehicleare such that the user is prevented from removing the mobile device fromthe holder while operating the vehicle. Accordingly, it is believed thatthe user may focus all of his/her attention on the activity that he/sheis then-currently engaged in (such as driving a vehicle) rather thananswering voice calls, reading and responding to incoming text messages,and/or the like.

Further, the examples of the methods disclosed herein are particularlyuseful for activities that occur while the user (and thus the mobilecommunications device) is located inside a mobile vehicle. In oneexample method, upon pairing the mobile device with the telematics unitof the vehicle (which may be accomplished as soon as the mobile deviceis inside the vehicle and/or within short range wireless communicationrange with the telematics unit for the first time), and thereafter eachtime the paired mobile device is connected to the telematics unit (whichmay be accomplished each time the paired mobile device is within shortrange wireless communication range with the telematics unit), theadjustment of the functionality of the audio component may beaccomplished on command by an in-vehicle telematics unit upon detectingthat the mobile device is not located in or at a predefined locationinside the vehicle. When this detection occurs, the telematics unitcommunicates with the audio component, and controls the functionality ofthe audio component so that the user can focus his/her attention, e.g.,on driving rather than on using his/her mobile device. In anotherexample method, upon breaking a radio frequency identification (RFID)connection previously established between an RFID tag on or at thepredefined location inside the vehicle and an RFID reader attached tothe mobile device, the device is configured (via, e.g., an applicationresident thereon) to automatically send a message to an outside entitythat indicates, for instance, that the device is no longer located at/inthe predefined location. In some instances, upon breaking the RFIDconnection, the method further involves automatically adjusting afunctionality of the mobile device and/or automatically establishing ashort range wireless connection with an in-vehicle telematics unit tocontrol or modify one or more vehicle components and/or vehicle systems.Details of the respective example methods mentioned herein will bedescribed further below.

As used herein, the term “user” includes any person in possession of amobile communications device, and who is engaged in an activity (e.g.,driving a mobile vehicle) while in possession of the device. The “user”may, in an example, be a vehicle owner, a vehicle driver, and/or avehicle passenger. In instances where the user is the vehicle owner, theterm “user” may be used interchangeably with the term subscriber/servicesubscriber. In some of the examples of the methods disclosed below, theuser has his/her own personal webpage upon which information may beposted, and may further have his/her own mobile communications device.

Further, a “member” refers to a person or entity who/that has beeninvited by the user of a networking page, to access and view thenetworking page, and such person or entity has accepted the user'sinvitation. A member may also refer to a person or entity that hasinvited the user to be part of a networking group, and the user hasaccepted the invitation. It is to be understood that the networking pageis generally associated with a host server. As used herein, a “hostserver” refers to a processor or computer upon which information of awebsite resides. In some of the examples disclosed herein, the websiteis a networking website, examples of which include a professional and/orsocial networking site. Non-limiting examples of networking sitesinclude FACEBOOK™, TWITTER™, LINKEDIN®, and MYSPACE®. It is to beunderstood that the term “member” may be used interchangeably with theterm “friend”.

Furthermore, the term “post”, as used herein, may be used as a noun thatrefers to a message (such as, e.g., a data message, a picture, a video,etc.) that is uploaded or posted onto the host server of the websitehosting the user's personal webpage.

Additionally, the term “communication” is to be construed to include allforms of communication, including direct and indirect communication.Indirect communication may include communication between two componentswith additional component(s) located therebetween.

Still further, the terms “connect/connected/connection” and/or the likeare broadly defined herein to encompass a variety of divergent connectedarrangements and assembly techniques. These arrangements and techniquesinclude, but are not limited to (1) the direct communication between onecomponent and another component with no intervening componentstherebetween; and (2) the communication of one component and anothercomponent with one or more components therebetween, provided that theone component being “connected to” the other component is somehow inoperative communication with the other component (notwithstanding thepresence of one or more additional components therebetween).

FIG. 1 described in detail below depicts a system (identified byreference numeral 10) for controlling mobile communications while a userof the device (identified by reference numeral 98) is engaged inoperating a mobile vehicle (identified by reference numeral 12). Forpurposes of the instant disclosure, the mobile communications device 98may be selected from any mobile device capable of receiving and sendingvoice calls and/or text messages (such as SMS or MMS messages) and/ore-mails, etc. Examples of the mobile device include a mobile cellularphone, a smart phone, or the like. For some examples, the mobile deviceis chosen from one that is capable of executing an application stored inthe memory 105 operatively associated therewith.

As mentioned above, the example methods are particularly useful foractivities that occur involving a mobile vehicle 12 (such as driving thevehicle 12). This is due, at least in part, to the fact that the examplemethods may utilize a vehicle dedicated communications device (i.e., atelematics unit, identified by reference numeral 14). For instance, oneof the methods involves utilizing the telematics unit 14 to control thefunctionality of an audio component operatively disposed inside thevehicle 12 upon detecting that the mobile device 98 has been removedfrom a predefined location inside a vehicle cabin area. It is to beunderstood, however, that the example methods disclosed herein are notto be limited to activities that involve a vehicle 12, and that askilled artisan will know how to modify the teachings of the instantdisclosure in order to apply the method while the user is engaged in theother activity. For instance, the methods may be applied when the useris engaged in operating construction equipment. However, in someexamples, the method may be applied so long as the constructionequipment has associated therewith a communications device that can pairwith the mobile device 98 and an audio component having a functionalitythat may be adjusted on command from the communications device.

The system 10 depicted in FIG. 1 generally includes the mobile vehicle12, the telematics unit 14 operatively disposed in the mobile vehicle12, a carrier/communication system 16 (including, but not limited to,one or more cell towers 18, one or more base stations 19 and/or mobileswitching centers (MSCs) 20, and one or more service providers (e.g.,90) including mobile network operator(s)), one or more land networks 22,and one or more telematics service/call centers 24. In an example, thecarrier/communication system 16 is a two-way radio frequencycommunication system, and may be configured with a web servicesupporting system-to-system communications (e.g., communications betweenthe call center 24 and the service provider 90).

For purposes of illustration, the system 10 will be described belowusing a car as the mobile vehicle 12, and this vehicle 12 includes anumber of vehicle systems that contribute to the overall operation ofthe vehicle 12. An example of such a vehicle system includes a vehicleignition system (not shown), which may be used to power on the vehicle12, for example, by turning an ignition key, pressing an ignition buttoninside the vehicle 12 or on vehicle key fob, or the like. Anotherexample of a vehicle system includes a transmission system (also notshown) that is responsible for the mobility of the vehicle 12. Thevehicle transmission system utilizes a transmission shifting lever toswitch between various operational modes of the vehicle 12, such asbetween a drive mode, a park mode, a reverse mode, etc. The transmissionmay be manual or automatic, and while in the drive mode, thetransmission system may be changed (either manually or automaticallybased on the type of transmission system) between various gears (e.g.,first gear, second gear, etc.). In an example, the vehicle transmissionsystem may have associated therewith its own processor (not shown inFIG. 1), which sends signals to the telematics unit 14 using a data linkwhen the operational mode of the vehicle transmission system changes(e.g., from the drive mode into park mode, etc.) or when a gear of thetransmission system changes (e.g., from first gear to second gear,etc.). The transmission system processor may be operatively connected tothe telematics unit 14 via a vehicle bus 34, which is described furtherhereinbelow.

The wireless carrier/communication system 16 may be used to establishcommunication between a mobile communications device 98 and thetelematics unit 14. For example, a user of the device 98 (e.g., whenoutside of the vehicle 12) may call the telematics unit 14 over thewireless carrier/communication system 16. However, when the device 98 islocated within close proximity (i.e., a distance suitable for shortrange wireless communication) of the telematics unit 14, communicationbetween the mobile device 98 and the telematics unit 14 may beestablished via short range wireless connection (e.g., by pairing thetelematics unit 14 and the mobile device 98 using a BLUETOOTH® or thelike). In one example, the mobile device 98 is in close proximity of thetelematics unit 14 when the mobile device 98 is inside the passengercompartment (i.e., the cabin area) of the mobile vehicle 12. Furtherdetails of pairing the mobile device 98 with the telematics unit 14 willbe provided below.

In an example, the carrier/communication system 16 also includes a hostserver 94 including suitable computer equipment (not shown) upon whichinformation of a remotely accessible page 96 resides/is stored. Forinstance, the remotely accessible page 96 is a webpage set up andmaintained by the network provider 90 or by a telematics serviceprovider, and the user may access the page 96 by, e.g., submittingpersonal information (e.g., a login ID) and authenticating information(e.g., a password, a PIN, etc.). The computer equipment used to log intothe page 96 may also include hardware which, for example, can receiveand read a smart card for identification/authentication purposes, or canutilize biometrics for identification/authentication purposes.

In an example, the computer equipment of the host server 94 may furtherhave stored therein other remotely accessible pages, such as a user'spersonal webpage 97. This personal webpage 97, for example, may beassociated with one or more networking websites, such as FACEBOOK™,TWITTER™, LINKEDIN®, etc., or may be a user's telematics service siteand/or account managing site associated with the telematics call center24. In one example, the webpage 97 is a networking page set up andmaintained by the user, for instance, and the webpage 97 is hosted bythe networking website. While, in this example, the webpage 97 isdiscussed as being a personal webpage of the user, it is to beunderstood that the webpage 97 may be run and owned by the entityoperating the networking website. It is to be understood, however, thatthe webpage 97 may also be run and owned by the user who operateshis/her own networking site. In this case, the site is stored on auser-owned host server rather than the host server 94.

The overall architecture, setup and operation, as well as many of theindividual components of the system 10 shown in FIG. 1 are generallyknown in the art. Thus, the following paragraphs provide a briefoverview of one example of the system 10. It is to be understood,however, that additional components and/or other systems not shown herecould employ the method(s) disclosed herein.

Vehicle 12 may be a mobile land vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car,truck, recreational vehicle (RV), plane, boat, etc., and is equippedwith suitable hardware and software that enables it to communicate(e.g., transmit and/or receive voice and data communications) over thecarrier/communication system 16. For the example methods describedherein, the vehicle 12 is an automobile including an interior cabin area102, within which a vehicle driver (and possibly one or more passengers)reside(s) while the vehicle 12 is in operation. As shown in FIGS. 2through 6, the cabin area 102 includes at least a driver seat 108, apassenger seat (not shown), and a center console 104 positioned betweenthem. The cabin area 102 includes several locations where the mobiledevice 98 may be stowed while the driver is operating the vehicle 12. Inan example, one of these locations may be selected (e.g., by the vehiclemanufacturer) as a predefined location where the mobile device 98 shouldbe stowed while the vehicle 12 is being operated. In the example shownin FIG. 2, the predefined location is a receptacle 100 defined in thecenter console 104, and this receptacle 100 may be configured to receivethe device 98. In this example, the receptacle 100 alone may be referredto as a mobile device holder, and this holder is the predefined locationinside the vehicle 12. The receptacle/holder 100 may be, for instance,an opening previously formed in the center console 104 which isconfigured to receive the mobile device 98 directly. The opening may bein the form of a slot, and may be shaped to receive any type of device98. The opening may otherwise be rounded (as shown in FIG. 2) or may berectangular-shaped including sharp corners (e.g., right angled corners,or some other desired angled corners), rounded corners, or combinationsof both. Additionally, the holder 100 may be about the size of thelargest known mobile communications device, such as, e.g., the MotorolaDROID or the Apple iPHONE®. Thus, the entire mobile device 98 may beconsumed by/surrounded by the wall(s) of the holder 100 when the device98 is placed therein.

It is also contemplated that the holder 100 may be a separate receptaclethat fits into a pre-existing opening inside the vehicle 12, such as avehicle door storage pocket, a tray formed in the center console 104, anash tray, a cup holder, and/or the like. In one example, the separatereceptacle fits inside a cup holder that may be defined, for instance,in the center console 104 of the vehicle 12. The separate receptacle mayhave any shape formed from the connection of two opposed sides (e.g., aquasi pear shape formed from two integral or joined side walls), atriangular shape (formed from, e.g., three side walls), a quadrilateralshape (formed from, e.g., four side walls), as well as any shape formedfrom e.g., five or more side walls. In one example, the shape of thereceptacle is dictated by the opening for which it is designed.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the holder 100 includes a detector (notvisually shown in FIG. 2, but identified by reference numeral 106)operatively connected thereto. This detector 106 may be, in one example,a mechanical switch that is configured to be activated when the mobiledevice 98 is not positioned inside the holder 100. In an example, themechanical switch may include two contacts that form a circuit when thedevice 98 is disposed inside the holder 100, and the circuit is openwhen the device 98 has been removed from the holder 100 (as shown inFIG. 3). The switch 106 detects that the device 98 is not in the holderas soon as the circuit is opened. Upon detecting that the mobile device98 is not located in the holder 100, the detector 106 transmits a signalto the telematics unit 14 (via the bus 34, which is described in furtherdetail below) indicating that the device 98 is not located in the holder100.

In another example, as shown in FIG. 4, the predefined location may be aport 100′ formed, for instance, on the dashboard 116 of the vehicle 12.This port 100′ may be configured to receive a charging dongle 112connected to the mobile device 98 in order to supply power to, or chargea battery of the device 98. In an example, the charging dongle 112 is aUSB cable, and the port is a USB port configured to receive the USBcable. In this example, the port 100′ may also have a detector 106′operatively connected thereto that is activated when the charging dongle112 has been disconnected from the port 100′. When activated, thedetector 106′ transmits a signal to the telematics unit 14 (via the bus34) indicating that the device 98 is not located in the predefinedlocation.

Other examples of the predefined location and the detector 106, 106′that may be utilized to detect when the mobile device 98 is no longerlocated at/in the predefined location will be described in detail below(e.g., in reference to FIGS. 5 and 6).

Referring back to FIG. 1, some of the vehicle hardware 26 is generallyshown, including the telematics unit 14 and other components that areoperatively connected to the telematics unit 14. Examples of otherhardware 26 components include a microphone 28, a speaker 30 andbuttons, knobs, switches, keyboards, and/or controls 32. Generally,these hardware 26 components enable a user to communicate with thetelematics unit 14 and any other system 10 components in communicationwith the telematics unit 14. It is to be understood that the vehicle 12may also include additional components suitable for use in, or inconnection with, the telematics unit 14.

Operatively coupled to the telematics unit 14 is a network connection orvehicle bus 34, as mentioned above. Examples of suitable networkconnections include a controller area network (CAN), a media orientedsystem transfer (MOST), a local interconnection network (LIN), anEthernet, and other appropriate connections, such as those that conformwith known ISO, SAE, and IEEE standards and specifications, to name afew. The vehicle bus 34 enables the vehicle 12 to send and receivesignals from the telematics unit 14 to various units of equipment andsystems both outside the vehicle 12 and within the vehicle 12 to performvarious functions, such as unlocking a door, executing personal comfortsettings, and/or the like.

The telematics unit 14 is an onboard vehicle dedicated communicationsdevice. In an example, the telematics unit 14 is linked to the callcenter 24 via the carrier system 16, and is capable of calling andtransmitting data to the call center 24.

The telematics unit 14 provides a variety of services, both individuallyand through its communication with the call center 24. The telematicsunit 14 generally includes an electronic processing device 36operatively coupled to one or more types of electronic memory 38, acellular chipset/component 40, a wireless modem 42, a navigation unitcontaining a location detection (e.g., global positioning system (GPS))chipset/component 44, a real-time clock (RTC) 46, a short-range wirelesscommunication network 48 (e.g., a BLUETOOTH® unit), and/or a dualantenna 50. In one example, the wireless modem 42 includes a computerprogram and/or set of software routines (i.e., computer readableinstructions embedded on a non-transitory tangible medium) executingwithin processing device 36.

As mentioned above, the short range wireless communication 48 (e.g., theBLUETOOTH® unit) may be used to connect the mobile device 98 with thetelematics unit 14 once the devices 14, 98 have been paired. In anexample, the telematics unit continuously monitors for the presence ofthe mobile device 98 using a short range wireless antenna 51, andattempts to connect with the device 98 upon recognizing the presence ofthe mobile device 98. In another example, the mobile device 98continuously monitors for the presence of the telematics unit 14 usingits own short range wireless antenna 99. The mobile device 98 attemptsto connect with the telematics unit 14 upon recognizing the presence ofthe telematics unit 14; which typically occurs as soon as the mobiledevice 98 is placed within the short range wireless range of thetelematics unit 14. The mobile device 98 or the telematics unit 14 alonemay be configured to monitor for the presence of the other device, orboth of the devices 14, 98 may be configured to monitor for the presenceof the other device at the same time.

It is to be understood that the mobile device 98 and the telematics unit14 attempt to connect during each encounter between the devices 98, 14after the devices 14, 98 have been paired. The mobile device 98 and thetelematics unit 14 are actually paired when the telematics unit 14 andthe mobile device 98 exchange security codes/passwords with each other.This enables the telematics unit 14 and the mobile device 98 tocommunicate typically under a secured connection. As a more specificexample, pairing may involve setting the mobile device 98 to a shortrange wireless discovery mode (such as by selecting, on the device 98, adiscovery mode function as a menu option, icon, or the like). While inthe discovery mode, other devices having a short range wirelesscommunication system (such as the telematics unit 14) are allowed todetect the presence of the mobile device 98. When the telematics unit 14locates the device 98, the device 98 automatically provides the type ofdevice it is (e.g., a cellular phone) and its short range wirelessconnection name. This short range wireless connection name may, forinstance, be selected by the user or provided by the manufacturer of thedevice 98. The device 98 may then prompt the user to enter a securitycode/password, and this security code/password is sent to the telematicsunit 14. Upon receiving the security code/password, the telematics unit14 sends its own security code/password to the device 98 to ultimatelypair the two devices 14, 98 together.

Once the two units 14, 98 have been paired and whenever within shortrange wireless communication range of each other, the telematics unit 14can directly communicate with the mobile device 98, and voicecommunications received at the mobile device 98 are transmitted to theuser hands-free via the telematics unit 14.

In some cases, the telematics unit 14 may be directly involved incontrolling the mobile device 98. This may be accomplished after a shortrange wireless connection has been established between the devices 14,98. For instance, the telematics unit 14 may submit a command to themobile device 98 to adjust a functionality of the device 98. The commandmay be processed via a processor (not shown, but labeled 101)operatively disposed in the mobile device 98. More specifically, theprocessor 101 executes an application 103 stored in a memory 105 of themobile device 98 in response to the command, where the application 103is specifically designed to adjust the functionality of the device 98.It is to be understood that the application is further designed tore-adjust the functionality back into its original, default state (ifpreviously adjusted) in response to another command received from thetelematics unit 14.

The telematics unit 14 may also or otherwise be directly involved incontrolling an operational mode of the vehicle 12 upon receiving anotification (in the form of, e.g., a signal), from the mobile device98, that the mobile device 98 has been placed in the predefined location100 (e.g., upon establishing an RFID connection between the RFID readerof the mobile device 98 and the RFID tag on/at the predefined locationinside the vehicle 12) or is no longer placed in the predefined location100 (e.g., upon breaking the previously established RFID connectionbetween the RFID reader and the RFID tag). Upon receiving the signal,the processor 36 associated with the telematics unit 14 is configured toactivate an appropriate preset operational mode of the vehicle 12.

It is to be understood that the telematics unit 14 may be implementedwithout one or more of the above listed components (e.g., the real timeclock 46), except in the examples disclosed herein, the telematics unit14 includes the short range wireless network 48. It is to be furtherunderstood that telematics unit 14 may also include additionalcomponents and functionality as desired for a particular end use.

The electronic processing device 36 of the telematics unit 14 may be amicro controller, a controller, a microprocessor, a host processor,and/or a vehicle communications processor. In another example,electronic processing device 36 may be an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC). Alternatively, electronic processing device36 may be a processor working in conjunction with a central processingunit (CPU) performing the function of a general-purpose processor. Theelectronic processing device 36 (also referred to herein as a processor)may, for example, include software programs having computer readablecode to initiate and/or perform various functions of the telematics unit14, as well as computer readable code for performing various steps ofthe examples of the method disclosed herein. For instance, the processor36 may include software programs that include computer readablecode/instructions encoded on a computer readable medium for recognizingthat the mobile communications device 98 is not located in or at thepredefined location inside a cabin area 102 of the vehicle 12, and forgenerating a command to be transmitted to an in-vehicle audio component60 (e.g., via the bus 34) to adjust the functionality of the audiocomponent 60. The processor 36 also includes other software programsthat include computer readable code encoded on the computer readablemedium for initiating the transmission of a command to the mobile device98 to adjust a functionality thereof and/or for activating a presetoperational mode of the vehicle 12. The software program may alsocontain other computer readable code for initiating a transmission ofanother command to the mobile device 98 to re-adjust the functionalityback to its default state and/or to de-activate the preset operationalmode in response to a trigger, such as upon detecting, via thetelematics unit 14, that the vehicle 12 is stopped, parked, and/orplaced into an ignition OFF state (e.g., by powering off the vehicle12).

Still referring to FIG. 1, the location detection chipset/component 44may include a Global Position System (GPS) receiver, a radiotriangulation system, a dead reckoning position system, and/orcombinations thereof. In particular, a GPS receiver provides accuratetime and latitude and longitude coordinates of the vehicle 12 responsiveto a GPS broadcast signal received from a GPS satellite constellation(not shown).

The cellular chipset/component 40 may be an analog, digital, dual-mode,dual-band, multi-mode and/or multi-band cellular phone. Basically, thecellular chipset 40 is a semiconductor engine that enables thetelematics unit 14 to connect with other devices some suitable type ofwireless technology. The cellular chipset/component 40 uses one or moreprescribed frequencies in the 800 MHz analog band or in the 800 MHz, 900MHz, 1900 MHz and higher digital cellular bands. In some cases, thecellular chipset/component 40 may also use a frequency below 800 MHzsuch as 700 MHz or lower. In yet other cases, the cellularchipset/component 40 may use a frequency above 2600 MHz. Any suitableprotocol may be used, including digital transmission technologies, suchas TDMA (time division multiple access), CDMA (code division multipleaccess), GSM (global system for mobile telecommunications), and LTE(long term evolution). In some instances, the protocol may beshort-range wireless communication technologies, such as BLUETOOTH®,dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), or Wi-Fi. In otherinstances, the protocol is Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) Rev B (3G) orLong Term Evolution (LTE) (4G).

Also associated with electronic processing device 36 is the previouslymentioned real time clock (RTC) 46, which provides accurate date andtime information to the telematics unit 14 hardware and softwarecomponents that may require and/or request date and time information. Inan example, the RTC 46 may provide date and time informationperiodically, such as, for example, every ten milliseconds.

The electronic memory 38 of the telematics unit 14 may be configured tostore data associated with the various systems of the vehicle 12,vehicle operations, vehicle user preferences and/or personalinformation, and the like. The user preferences (e.g., user-selectedadjustments to user-selected functionalities of the mobile device 98,user-selected (i.e., preset) operational modes of the vehicle 12 uponidentifying the driver of the vehicle 12 and upon detecting that thedriver's mobile device is not located in a predefined location insidethe vehicle 12 while the vehicle 12 is in operation, etc.) and/orpersonal information (e.g., the subscriber's name, garage address,billing address, home phone number, cellular phone number, etc.) may bestored in a user profile, created by the user upon setting up his/heraccount with the telematics service provider. The profile may be createdby accessing the remotely accessible page 96 and selecting and/orinputting his/her preferences, by calling the call center 24 andspeaking with a service advisor 62, 62′, etc. The user profile may alsoinclude user-selected services in addition to the user-selectedpreferences and personal information.

The telematics unit 14 provides numerous services alone or inconjunction with the call center 24, some of which may not be listedherein, and is configured to fulfill one or more user or subscriberrequests. Several examples of these services include, but are notlimited to: turn-by-turn directions and other navigation-relatedservices provided in conjunction with the GPS based chipset/component44; airbag deployment notification and other emergency or roadsideassistance-related services provided in connection with various crashand or collision sensor interface modules 52 and sensors 54 locatedthroughout the vehicle 12; and infotainment-related services wheremusic, Web pages, movies, television programs, videogames and/or othercontent is downloaded by an infotainment center 56 operatively connectedto the telematics unit 14 via vehicle bus 34 and audio bus 58. In oneexample, downloaded content is stored (e.g., in memory 38) for currentor later playback.

Again, the above-listed services are by no means an exhaustive list ofall the capabilities of telematics unit 14, but are simply anillustration of some of the services that the telematics unit 14 iscapable of offering. It is to be understood that when these services areobtained from the call center 24, the telematics unit 14 is consideredto be operating in a telematics service mode.

Vehicle communications generally utilize radio transmissions toestablish a voice channel with carrier system 16 such that both voiceand data transmissions may be sent and received over the voice channel.Vehicle communications are enabled via the cellular chipset/component 40for voice communications and the wireless modem 42 for datatransmission. In order to enable successful data transmission over thevoice channel, wireless modem 42 applies some type of encoding ormodulation to convert the digital data so that it can communicatethrough a vocoder or speech codec incorporated in the cellularchipset/component 40. It is to be understood that any suitable encodingor modulation technique that provides an acceptable data rate and biterror may be used with the examples disclosed herein. In one example, anEvolution Data Optimized (EVDO) Rev B (3G) system (which offers a datarate of about 14.7 Mbit/s) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) (4G) system(which offers a data rate of up to about 1 Gbit/s) may be used. Thesesystems permit the transmission of both voice and data simultaneously.Generally, dual mode antenna 50 services the location detectionchipset/component 44 and the cellular chipset/component 40.

The microphone 28 provides the user with a means for inputting verbal orother auditory commands, and can be equipped with an embedded voiceprocessing unit utilizing human/machine interface (HMI) technology knownin the art. Conversely, speaker(s) 30, 30′ provide verbal output to thevehicle occupants and can be either a stand-alone speaker 30specifically dedicated for use with the telematics unit 14 or can bepart of a vehicle audio component 60, such as speaker 30′. In eitherevent and as previously mentioned, microphone 28 and speaker(s) 30, 30′enable vehicle hardware 26 and telematics service call center 24 tocommunicate with the occupants through audible speech. The vehiclehardware 26 also includes one or more buttons, knobs, switches,keyboards, and/or controls 32 for enabling a vehicle occupant toactivate or engage one or more of the vehicle hardware components. Inone example, one of the buttons 32 may be an electronic pushbutton usedto initiate voice communication with the telematics service providercall center 24 (whether it be a live advisor 62 or an automated callresponse system 62′) to request services, to initiate a voice call toanother mobile communications device, etc.

The audio component 60 is operatively connected to the vehicle bus 34and the audio bus 58. The audio component 60 receives analoginformation, rendering it as sound, via the audio bus 58. Digitalinformation is received via the vehicle bus 34. The audio component 60provides AM and FM radio, satellite radio, CD, DVD, multimedia and otherlike functionality independent of the infotainment center 56. Audiocomponent 60 may contain a speaker system (e.g., speaker 30′), or mayutilize speaker 30 via arbitration on vehicle bus 34 and/or audio bus58. In an example, the audio component 60 includes a number of differentfunctions that may be adjusted on command by the telematics unit 14 uponrecognizing that the mobile device 98 is not located in/at a predefinedlocation (e.g., inside the holder 100 or unplugged from the port 100′)inside the vehicle 12. The audio component 60 may be adjusted, forinstance, by muting, fading, or otherwise scrambling an output (e.g., asong) that is then-currently being played or output from the audiocomponent 60 over, e.g., the speaker 30′. In instances where the audiocomponent 60 is muted or faded, the audio component 60 may be configuredto play an audible warning message to the vehicle user. Further detailsof the warning message will be described below. The audio component 60may otherwise be adjusted by playing an alert tone (e.g., a beep, atone, etc.) through the speaker 30′.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the vehicle crash and/or collision detectionsensor interface 52 is/are operatively connected to the vehicle bus 34.The crash sensors 54 provide information to the telematics unit 14 viathe crash and/or collision detection sensor interface 52 regarding theseverity of a vehicle collision, such as the angle of impact and theamount of force sustained.

Other vehicle sensors 64, connected to various sensor interface modules66 are operatively connected to the vehicle bus 34. Example vehiclesensors 64 include, but are not limited to, gyroscopes, accelerometers,speed sensors, magnetometers, emission detection and/or control sensors,environmental detection sensors, and/or the like. One or more of thesensors 64 enumerated above may be used to obtain vehicle data for useby the telematics unit 14 or the call center 24 (when transmittedthereto from the telematics unit 14) to determine the operation of thevehicle 12. Example sensor interface modules 66 include powertraincontrol, climate control, body control, and/or the like.

In an example, each of the vehicle sensors 64 is associated with its ownprocessor (not shown), which may include computer program(s) forobtaining information from the sensors 64 and either utilizing them toperform various vehicle functions and/or to send the information (e.g.,as signals) to another processor in the vehicle 12 (e.g., the processor36) to be utilized in other computer program(s). For instance, the speedsensor may be associated with its own processor which obtains speedsignals from the speed sensor and transmits those signals to theprocessor 36 of the telematics unit 14 via the bus 34. The processor 36may utilize the speed signals to establish a trigger that ultimatelyactivates the application 103 stored on the mobile device 98. Thetrigger may be, e.g., when the vehicle 12 is physically in motion (i.e.,the vehicle speed is greater than zero) or when the vehicle 12 hasreached a predefined vehicle speed.

The vehicle hardware 26 includes the display 80, which may beoperatively directly connected to or in communication with thetelematics unit 14, or may be part of the audio component 60. Thedisplay 80 may be any human-machine interface (HMI) disposed within thevehicle 12 that includes audio, visual, haptic, etc. The display 80 may,in some instances, be controlled by or in network communication with theaudio component 60, or may be independent of the audio component 60.Examples of the display 80 include a VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display),an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, a driver information centerdisplay, a radio display, an arbitrary text device, a heads-up display(HUD), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Diode) display, and/or the like. In anexample, the display 80 may be configured to display a text-basedwarning message to the vehicle user in response to a command initiatedby the telematics unit 14 upon recognizing that the mobile device 98 isnot located in/at the predefined location (e.g., holder 100, 100′)inside the vehicle 12.

In an example, the vehicle 12 may also include a warning light 114operatively disposed on a surface inside the cabin area 102 of thevehicle 12 that is within the field of view of the vehicle driver. Inthe examples shown in FIGS. 2-6, the warning light 114 is disposed onthe dashboard 116, and (as shown in FIG. 1) is in communication with thetelematics unit 14 via the bus 34. The warning light 114 may beactivated (e.g., may blink) on command by the telematics unit 14, forexample, when or after the functionality of the audio component 60 hasbeen adjusted and/or when or after a message has been sent to an entityoutside of the vehicle 12.

In some examples, the detector (not shown, but referred to by referencenumeral 106″ in FIG. 5) is an RFID reader that is operatively disposedinside the vehicle interior 102 at or near the predefined location 100.The RFID reader 106″ utilizes radio frequency identification technologywhich uses radio waves to transfer data between a reader and anelectronic tag (i.e., an RFID tag) attached to an object for the generalpurpose of identification and/or tracking. The RFID reader 106″ may be adevice separate from, but attached to the predefined location 100, ormay be incorporated into the predefined location 100. The RFID reader106″ generally contains hardware powered by the vehicle battery (e.g.,if incorporated into the vehicle 12) or powered by its own battery(e.g., if separate from, but attached to the vehicle 12). Further, inthis example, the RFID reader 106″ is a fixed reader, where the readerhas an interrogation zone (also referred to as a reading area or an RFIDconnection range) defined by a predefined radius or bubble surroundingthe reader 106″. The size of the interrogation zone is determined, atleast in part, by its energy source, and thus by the amount of RFIDenergy generated by the reader 106″. The interrogation zone may, forinstance, include a distance ranging about 12 cm to about 25 cm in anydirection from the reader 106″, and the RFID reader 106″ may operatehaving an RFID energy of about 900 MHz.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the RFID reader 106″ is configured toestablish an RFID connection with the RFID tag (identified by referencenumeral 117) which may be disposed on the mobile device 98. The RFID tag117 may be composed of an integrated circuit for storing and processinginformation (such as information identifying the vehicle 12, e.g., itsvehicle identification number (VIN)), for modulating and demodulatingthe radio frequency (RF) signal, and for other specialized functions.The tag 117 further includes an antenna for receiving and transmittingthe signal to the reader 106″. As such, an RFID connection isestablished when the RFID reader 106″ receives the signal from the RFIDtag 117 when the tag 117 (which may be part of the mobile device 98) isplaced within the RFID interrogation zone (i.e., within the RFIDconnection range or reading area). Further, this connection may bebroken upon separating the reader 106″ from the tag 117, which may beaccomplished by moving the mobile device 98 (and thus the tag 117, whichis attached to the device 98) to a position outside of the interrogationzone. Upon breaking the connection, the reader 106″ (which, in theexample is associated with FIG. 5, also acts as a detector)automatically transmits a signal to the telematics unit 14 (e.g., viathe bus 34) indicating that the RFID connection has been broken and thatthe mobile device 98 is no longer located in or at the predefinedlocation.

In another example, as shown in FIG. 6, the RFID tag 117 is attached toa surface defined inside the vehicle interior 102 at or near thepredefined location 100. For instance, the RFID tag 117 may be directlyattached to the mobile device holder 100 so long as the holder itself isphysically attached to (i.e., not removable from) the vehicle interior102. An RFID reader 119 is operatively attached to the mobile device 98,and may be, in this example, referred to as a mobile reader. It is to beunderstood that the interrogation zone defined around the mobile readeris the same as that for the fixed reader (shown as reference numeral106″ in FIG. 5), except that the positioning of the interrogation zonechanges based on the positioning of the mobile device 98. Further, theRFID reader 119 may be a device separate from, but physically attachedto the mobile device 98, or may be incorporated into the mobile device98. An RFID connection may be established when the mobile device 98(which has the RFID reader 119 attached thereto) is placed in a positioninside the vehicle interior 102 such that the RFID tag 117 attached to asurface inside the vehicle interior 102 falls within the interrogationzone. This RFID connection may be broken, for instance, when the mobiledevice 98 is moved away from the tag 117 such that the tag 117 is nolonger inside the interrogation zone.

As mentioned above, the system 10 includes the carrier/communicationsystem 16. A portion of the carrier/communication system 16 may be acellular telephone system or any other suitable wireless system thattransmits signals between the vehicle hardware 26 and land network 22.According to an example, the wireless portion of thecarrier/communication system 16 includes one or more cell towers 18,base stations 19 and/or mobile switching centers (MSCs) 20, as well asany other networking components required to connect the wireless portionof the system 16 with land network 22. It is to be understood thatvarious cell tower/base station/MSC arrangements are possible and couldbe used with the wireless portion of the system 16. For example, a basestation 19 and a cell tower 18 may be co-located at the same site orthey could be remotely located, or a single base station 19 may becoupled to various cell towers 18, or various base stations 19 could becoupled with a single MSC 20. A speech codec or vocoder may also beincorporated in one or more of the base stations 19, but depending onthe particular architecture of the wireless network 16, it could beincorporated within an MSC 20 or some other network components as well.

Land network 22 may be a conventional land-based telecommunicationsnetwork that is connected to one or more landline telephones andconnects the wireless portion of the carrier/communication network 16 tothe call/data center 24. For example, land network 22 may include apublic switched telephone network (PSTN) and/or an Internet protocol(IP) network. It is to be understood that one or more segments of theland network 22 may be implemented in the form of a standard wirednetwork, a fiber or other optical network, a cable network, otherwireless networks, such as wireless local networks (WLANs) or networksproviding broadband wireless access (BWA), or any combination thereof.

The call centers 24 of the telematics service provider (also referred toherein as a service center) are designed to provide the vehicle hardware26 with a number of different system back-end functions. According tothe example shown in FIG. 1, one call center 24 generally includes oneor more switches 68, servers 70, databases 72, live and/or automatedadvisors 62, 62′, processing equipment (or processor) 84, acommunications module 86, a data aggregator 75, as well as a variety ofother telecommunication and computer equipment 74 that is known to thoseskilled in the art. These various telematics service provider componentsare coupled to one another via a network connection or bus 76, such asone similar to the vehicle bus 34 previously described in connectionwith the vehicle hardware 26.

The processor 84, which is often used in conjunction with the computerequipment 74, is generally equipped with suitable software and/orprograms enabling the processor 84 to accomplish a variety of servicecenter 24 functions. Further, the various operations of the servicecenter 24 are carried out by one or more computers (e.g., computerequipment 74) programmed to carry out some of the tasks of the servicecenter 24. The computer equipment 74 (including computers) may include anetwork of servers (including server 70) coupled to both locally storedand remote databases (e.g., database 72) of any information processed.

The databases 72 may be designed to store subscriber profile records,subscriber behavioral patterns, or any other pertinent subscriberinformation. In an example, the databases 72 may be configured to alsostore the user profile.

Switch 68, which may be a private branch exchange (PBX) switch, routesincoming signals so that voice transmissions are usually sent to eitherthe live advisor 62 or the automated response system 62′, and datatransmissions are passed on to a modem or other piece of equipment (notshown) for demodulation and further signal processing. The modempreferably includes an encoder, as previously explained, and can beconnected to various devices such as the server 70 and database 72.

Additionally, for some examples of the instant disclosure, the callcenter 24 is in selective and operative communication with thetelematics unit 14 and host server 94, and may be configured to post amessage onto the user's personal webpage 97. In an example, the callcenter 24 further includes a data aggregator 75 which is embodied at thecall center 24 as a data aggregation module. The data aggregator 75 maybe in selective and operative communication with the telematics unit 14and/or the mobile communications device 98 via the communication system16, and may, in some instances, receive and bin data included in thedata message(s) generated as a result of detecting that an RFIDconnection between the RFID reader 119 attached to the mobile device 98and the RFID tag 117 attached to the vehicle 12 has been establishedand/or has been broken. The data aggregator 75 may otherwise beoperatively connected to the communication module 86 at the call center24 (via, e.g., the bus 76), and is configured to receive and bin thedata contained in the message(s) upon receiving it/them from thecommunications module 86. In these instances, the data aggregator 75 maysimply be a data repository. In other instances, the data aggregator 75is also capable of running computer readable code/software routines forreceiving and processing the data contained in the message(s), e.g., todetermine how to format the data and/or where to report the data. Forinstance, upon processing the data, the data aggregator 75 may re-formatthe data (which may be in a machine-readable form upon receiving thedata) into a human-readable form, and, e.g., post the re-formatted dataonto the user's personal webpage 97. In instances where the dataaggregator 75 is simply a data repository, re-formatting of the data mayotherwise be accomplished via a computer software program run by theprocessor 84 at the call center 24, which retrieves the data from thedata aggregator 75, re-formats the data, and, e.g., posts there-formatted data onto the user's personal webpage 97.

In another example, the data aggregator 75 (in instances where itincludes its own processor) or the processor 84 may further containcomputer readable code for reporting (i.e., communicating) the receiveddata to another entity (such as, e.g., the mobile device of the driver'sparent(s)). The reporting of the data may be accomplished via a wirelessconnection, a landline, the Internet, a short message service message,and/or the like. In an example, the data aggregator 75 (or the processor84) further includes suitable computer readable code for filtering thedata and/or for performing data conditioning processes to place suchdata in form for transmission to the other entity.

The communications module 86 is configured, via suitable communicationsequipment (such as equipment capable of handling messaging between thecall center 24 and the telematics unit 14 (e.g., VehComm), modems,TCP/IP supporting equipment, and/or the like), to enable the call center24 to establish a communication with the telematics unit 14, the mobiledevice 98, or vice versa. The communications module 86 is capable ofreceiving message(s) (i.e., packet data) from the telematics unit 14and/or the mobile device 98, identifying the mobile device 98 that maybe/is being controlled, and transmitting the message(s) to the dataaggregator 75. The data aggregator 75 may run computer readablecode/software routines that can receive the data, determine where to thesend the data to, and one of i) transmit the data to the properlocation, ii) upload the data as a post on the host server 94 of theuser's personal webpage 97, or iii) store the data for internal callcenter 24 use. The stored data may be used, e.g., to determine a historyof the usage of the mobile device 98 by the driver while operating themobile vehicle 12.

It is to be appreciated that the service center 24 may be any central orremote facility, manned or unmanned, mobile or fixed, to or from whichit is desirable to exchange voice and data communications. As such, thelive advisor 62 may be physically present at the service center 24 ormay be located remote from the service center 24 while communicatingtherethrough.

The communications network provider 90 generally owns and/or operatesthe carrier/communication system 16. The communications network provider90 includes a mobile network operator that monitors and maintains theoperation of the communications network 90. The network operator directsand routes calls, and troubleshoots hardware (cables, routers, networkswitches, hubs, network adaptors), software, and transmission problems.It is to be understood that, although the communications networkprovider 90 may have back-end equipment, employees, etc. located at thetelematics service provider service center 24, the telematics serviceprovider is a separate and distinct entity from the network provider 90.In an example, the equipment, employees, etc. of the communicationsnetwork provider 90 are located remote from the service center 24. Thecommunications network provider 90 provides the user with telephoneand/or Internet services, while the telematics service provider providesa variety of telematics-related services (such as, for example, thosediscussed hereinabove). The communications network provider 90 mayinteract with the service center 24 to provide services (such asemergency services) to the user.

While not shown in FIG. 1, it is to be understood that in someinstances, the telematics service provider operates a data center, whichreceives voice or data calls, analyzes the request associated with thevoice or data call, and transfers the call to an application specificcall center associated with the telematics service provider. It isfurther to be understood that the application specific call center mayinclude all of the components of the data center, but is a dedicatedfacility for addressing specific requests, needs, etc. Examples ofapplication specific call centers include, but are not limited to,emergency services call centers, navigation route call centers,in-vehicle function call centers, or the like.

The call center 24 components shown in FIG. 1 may also be virtualizedand configured in a Cloud Computer, that is, Internet-based computingenvironment. For example, the computer equipment 74 may be accessed as aCloud platform service, or PaaS (Platform as a Service), utilizing Cloudinfrastructure rather than hosting computer equipment 74 at the callcenter 24. The database 72 and server 70 may also be virtualized as aCloud resource. The Cloud infrastructure, known as IaaS (Infrastructureas a Service) typically utilizes a platform virtualization environmentas a service, which may include components such as the processor 84,database 72, server 70, and computer equipment 74. In an example,application software and services (such as, e.g., navigation routegeneration and subsequent delivery to the vehicle 12) may be performedin the Cloud via the SaaS (Software as a Service). Subscribers, in thisfashion, may access software applications remotely via the Cloud.Further, subscriber service requests may be acted upon by the automatedadvisor 62′, which may be configured as a service present in the Cloud.

Examples of one of the methods for controlling mobile communicationswill be described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 through 5, while examplesof another method for controlling mobile communications will bedescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 6. It is to be understoodthat, in any of these examples, the controlling of the mobile device 98is accomplished while the mobile device 98 is located inside a mobilevehicle (such as the vehicle 12).

One method for controlling mobile communications involves at leastadjusting a functionality of the audio component 60 disposed inside thevehicle 12 upon recognizing that a mobile communications device 98(which is associated with a vehicle operator, driver, or user) is notlocated in/at a predefined location (such as in the holder 100 orconnected to a port 100′) inside the cabin area 102 of the vehicle 12.Details of the examples of this method will now be described herein.

Before mobile communications may be controlled, in an example, themobile device 98 may be associated with the telematics unit 14. This maybe accomplished by registering both the telematics unit 14 and themobile device 98 with the call center 24, and examples of theregistration process are described hereinbelow. It is to be understoodthat the mobile device 98 and the telematics unit 14 may be paired uponregistering, or prior to registering the devices 14, 98, and thus themobile device 98 may connect with the telematics unit 14 (via, e.g., aBLUETOOTH® connection) whenever the device 98 is within a short rangewireless distance from the telematics unit 14.

In an example, registering may be accomplished by accessing (via, e.g.,a computer station having Internet access capabilities) the remotelyaccessible page (or webpage) 96 and submitting, into a login screen onthe webpage 96, an acceptable login and password (or identifying andauthenticating information). Once the webpage 96 has been accessed, theperson accessing the webpage 96 (which is typically an authorized userof the vehicle 12) may select (e.g., by selecting a menu option or anicon displayed on the webpage 96 screen) a program configured toassociate the mobile device 98 with the telematics unit 14. In somecases, associating the mobile device 98 with the telematics unit 14 isthe same as enrolling the mobile device 98 in a program for selectivelycontrolling, via the telematics unit 14, the functionality of the audiocomponent 60 based on the location of the device 98 inside the vehiclecabin area 102 while the vehicle 12 is in operation. In an example, theuser may access a user profile through the webpage 96, which typicallyincludes information pertaining to the user and the user's vehicle 12.In many cases, the user profile will also include identificationinformation of the in-vehicle telematics unit 14 (e.g., its serialnumber and the mobile dialing number (MDN), and perhaps any mobiledevices that have already been paired (via, e.g., a BLUETOOTH®connection) with the telematics unit 14). In these cases, the usersubmits identification information of the mobile device 98 (e.g., itsserial number, phone number, short range wireless security information,etc.), and indicates (e.g., via a mouse click on an appropriate icon ormenu option on the webpage 96) to associate the two devices 14, 98. Incases where the telematics unit 14 is not identified in the user'sprofile, the user may submit both identification information of thetelematics unit 14 and identification information of the mobile device98, and indicate on the webpage 96 that the telematics unit 14 and themobile device 98 are linked or associated with each other. The fact thatthe mobile device 98 is linked to or associated with the telematics unit14 may then be stored in a user profile in one of the databases 72 atthe call center 24.

Registering may otherwise be accomplished by placing a call (using,e.g., the telematics unit 14, the mobile device 98, or othercommunications device) to the call center 24, and submitting a requestto a call center advisor 62, 62′ to associate the telematics unit 14with the mobile device 98, and visa versa. More specifically, the callis received at the switch 68, which directs the call to an appropriateadvisor 62, 62′ (or to an appropriate call center if the call isreceived at a data center). Upon authorizing the caller (e.g., whoaccurately responds to a number of challenge questions), the caller maysubmit the identification information of the mobile device 98 to theadvisor 62, 62′, who/which may use the information to associate, andthus register the mobile device 98 with the telematics unit 14. Thisinformation is stored in the user profile in the database 72. In anexample, the advisor 62, 62′ may access the webpage 96 and associate thetwo devices 14, 98 together (e.g., as if the user had accessed thewebpage 96 himself/herself).

It is also possible to register the device 98 using a user interfaceinside the vehicle 12, such as a touch screen (e.g., a NAV screen or thelike) that is operatively associated with telematics unit 14. In anexample, the touch screen may be the same as the display 80 depicted inFIG. 1. This method enables the user to register the mobile device 98substantially the same way as he/she would register the device 98 byaccessing the webpage 96. It is to be understood that, in this method,preferences (which are described in detail below) are automaticallystored in the user profile stored in the memory 38 of the telematicsunit 14 as soon as the preferences are set by the user.

It is to be understood that the user (or caller) may want to associateor link a number of mobile devices 98 with a single telematics unit 14.For instance, the telematics unit 14 may be located in a vehicle 12 thatis shared by two or more people (such as a family vehicle, where thefather, mother, and children are each able to operate the vehicle 12),and each person owns or has in his/her possession an individual mobilecommunications device 98. Accordingly, each of the mobile devices 98 maybe associated with the same telematics unit 14 using any of the examplesof the registration process described herein. Similarly, it is to beunderstood that the user (or caller) may want to associate or link onemobile device 98 with multiple telematics units 14. For instance, afamily may own multiple vehicles 12, each of which has its owntelematics unit 14, and wish to associate one family member's mobiledevice 98 with each of the telematics units 14. Accordingly, the singlemobile device 98 may be associated with each telematics unit 14 usingany of the example methods disclosed herein.

In an example, during the registering of the mobile device 98 (via thewebpage 96, via the touch screen, or during the phone call with the callcenter 24), the user may select preferences which are stored in a userprofile in the database 72 at the call center 24. The user profile may,for example, be set up at the time the user creates his/her account withthe call center 24 (such as when the user subscribes to telematicsservices offered by the telematics service provider), and may includepersonal information of the user, such as the user's name, garageaddress, billing address, account settings, etc. The user-selectedpreferences that are stored in the user profile may include, forinstance, an identification of the mobile device(s) to be restricted(via, e.g., the MDN of the device(s) or short range wireless securitycodes/names (also referred to as BLUETOOTH® names)) and how therestriction should be applied. As used herein, a “restricted” device isone that is subject to the application of the example methods disclosedherein. In one example, the user may select how the functionality of theaudio component 60 is to be adjusted when the telematics unit 14 detectsthat the mobile device 98 is not located in the predefined location(e.g., holder 100, port 100′, etc.). For instance, the user may selectto mute, fade, and/or scramble any output being played from the audiocomponent 60 at the time of the detecting. The user may also orotherwise select to have an alert tone played through the audiocomponent 60 when the audio component is adjusted in response to thedetecting. This alert tone may be played in instances where no output isbeing played by the audio component 60 at the time of the detecting, ormay be played over any output that is being played by the audiocomponent 60 at the time of the detecting. In the latter instance, thevolume of the output may be automatically lowered upon playing the alerttone.

In an example, the user may also select to have an audible warningmessage played over the audio component 60 and/or a text-based warningmessage displayed on the display unit 80. This warning message may beused to apprise the user that the mobile device 98 is not located in/atthe predefined location (e.g., holder 100, port 100′), and may statesomething similar to “The device is not in the holder!”, or the like.The warning message may also be formulated to include instructions forthe user, such as to command the user to place the device 98 back intothe predefined location (e.g., holder 100, port 100′). This message maybe something similar to “Please put the device back in the holder!”, orthe like.

The warning message may be formulated by the user, e.g., by typing themessage (such as in a text box provided on the webpage 96) or recitingthe message (such as to the advisor 62, 62′ during a phone call with thecall center 24, who/which in turn types the message into the webpage 96for the user). The user may otherwise select the warning message from alist of options, e.g., presented in a drop-down menu on the webpage 96or from an option menu presented to the user during the phone call. Thewarning message may also be formulated using the touch screenoperatively disposed in the vehicle 12.

In instances where the user creates or selects the warning message usingthe webpage 96, the message is stored in the user profile in the form ofa text-based message. Utilizing a text-to-speech conversion program thatis executable by the processor 36 associated with the telematics unit14, the message is converted into speech so that it can be played by theaudio component 60.

It is further contemplated that the user may record a voice message uponsetting up his/her preferences during the registering of the device(s)98. This may be accomplished, e.g., by reciting the message into themicrophone 28 during the phone call with the call center 24, such asduring registration of the device 98. The recorded voice message may bestored in the user profile, and may be played by the audio component 60at the time of the detecting.

In another example, the user may select to have the warning messagepresented as a text-based message on the display unit 80. In instanceswhere the warning message is stored in the user profile as a text-basedmessage, via the telematics unit 14, this message may be retrieveddirectly from the user profile and displayed on the display 80. However,in instances where the warning message is stored in the user profile asa voice message (such as one created during the phone call to the callcenter 24, as described above), the voice message may be converted totext using a speech-to-text conversion program executable by theprocessor 36 of the telematics unit 14.

In still another example, the user may select (e.g., during theregistering of the mobile device 98) to have a warning light 114 (shownin FIGS. 2-5) activated as yet another way of apprising the user thatthe mobile device 98 is not located in/at the predefined location (e.g.,holder 100, port 100′). This warning light 114 may be placed anywhereinside the cabin area 102 of the vehicle 12 that is visibly noticeableby (i.e., within the field of view of) the vehicle user (e.g., thedriver). In one example, the warning light 114 is operatively disposedon the dashboard 116 inside the cabin area 102, and is positioned withinthe line of sight of the vehicle driver (as shown in FIGS. 2-5). Thewarning light 114 may otherwise be placed on the steering wheel, thecenter console 104 (e.g., next to the display 80), on the rear viewmirror, on the windshield in a position that would not obstruct thedriver's view, or the like. In some cases, it may be desirable toinclude two or more warning lights 114, where each is disposed in adifferent position inside the cabin area 102 of the vehicle 12.

The warning light 114 may be configured to be non-lit when inactivated(as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4-6), and configured to light up when activated(as shown in FIG. 3 by the lines drawn around the light 114 signifyingthat the light is illuminated, shining, or the like). In one example,the warning light 114 may blink, for instance, at a constant blink rate(e.g., one blink every half a second), or blink according to apredefined sequence (e.g., one blink and then three fast blinks). Thewarning light 114 may otherwise be configured to continuously shine(e.g., with no blinks) when activated. The warning light 114 may beactivated upon muting the audio component 60, fading the output beingplayed by the audio component 60, scrambling the output being played bythe audio component 60, and/or while an alert tone is being played overthe audio component 60.

Upon registering the device 98, the user may also be able to selectpreferences for how the adjusting of the functionality of the audiocomponent 60 is to be executed. For instance, the user may select tohave the functionality of the audio component 60 adjusted immediatelyupon detecting that the device 98 is not located in/at the predefinedlocation (e.g., holder 100, port 100′), or may select a grace periodmeasured from the time of the detecting. This grace period may, e.g., bea predefined amount of time (e.g., 5 seconds) which enables the vehicleuser to place the device 98 back to the predefined location (e.g.,holder 100, port 100′) before the audio component 60 is adjusted.

It is to be understood that, in instances where a family of devices 98is registered with a single telematics unit 14, one, more, or all of thedevices 98 may be identified as being subject to restriction via theexamples of the method disclosed herein. For example, the user mayselect to not have the method activated for Mom's device, and may alsoselect to have the method activated for the child's device. Theseselections may be changed, by an authorized user, via accessing thewebpage 96, calling the call center 24, or via the touch screen insidethe vehicle 12.

Further, in instances where the user registers more than one device 98,the user-selected preferences identified above may be the same for eachof the registered devices 98, or may be different for each respectivedevice 98. In the latter case, the user may select to not have themethod activated in instances where Mom or Dad's mobile device 98 isidentified, and to have the method activated in instances where thechild's mobile device 98 is identified. Further details of identifyingthe mobile device 98 will be described below.

It is to be understood that the preferences are set until the authorizeduser accesses the webpage 96 or the like, and removes or otherwisechanges the preferences associated with one or more the mobile devices98. The removed/changed preferences will take effect as soon as they arestored in the user profile, and remain as active preferences until theuser's subscription with the call center 24 expires or is canceled, orfor the duration predefined by the user. It is further to be understoodthat authorized persons alone are allowed to remove/change thepreferences stored in the user profile (e.g., Mom and Dad may beauthorized to remove/change the preferences for all of the mobiledevices 98 registered with the vehicle 12, whereas their children maynot be authorized). Those that are authorized to remove/change thepreferences are pre-established by the user who originally set up thesubscription account, or by others who the user has indicated as beingauthorized to change the preferences. Those that are authorized toremove/change the preferences may be identified, by the user, when thepreferences are originally set up and/or may be added or removed at anysubsequent time.

Once the preferences are set (or each time the preferences are changed)upon registering the device 98, the preferences are directly downloadedto and stored in the memory 38 of the telematics unit 14 (e.g., as partof a user profile) from the webpage 96 or the call center 24. Thepreferences are utilized by the telematics unit 14 to determine if themethod disclosed herein should be activated for an identified orrecognized mobile device 98 (e.g., which may be accomplished uponconnecting the registered device 98 with the telematics unit 14, whichwill be described further below). The telematics unit 14 also utilizesthe preferences to determine how the identified device 98 should berestricted, as previously described.

The telematics unit 14 utilizes the preferences stored in the memory 38to identify an operator of the mobile vehicle 12. In one example, viathe user-selected preferences, the telematics unit 14 is aware of themobile device(s) 98 that is/are associated therewith, and continuouslymonitors (via, e.g., the antenna 51) for the presence of the mobiledevice(s) 98 inside the vehicle 12. Upon detecting the presence of oneof the mobile devices 98 (which, for example, may occur when the mobiledevice 98 is carried into the vehicle 12 with the person in possessionof the device 98, and both the mobile device 98 and the telematics unit14 are in an ON state), the telematics unit 14 connects with the mobiledevice 98 via the short range wireless network 48 (such as, e.g., aBLUETOOTH® connection).

The examples of the registration process described above may otherwisebe used to set up the user preferences alone, and not to associate orotherwise pair the mobile device 98 with the telematics unit 14. In thiscase, the telematics unit 14 is unaware of the mobile device 98 untilthe device 98 is paired with the telematics unit 14 upon setting themobile device 98 (and/or the telematics unit 14) to a short rangewireless connection mode, which enables the mobile device 98 to pairwith the telematics unit 14 (and/or the mobile device 98) and establisha short range wireless connection for the first time. In this example,the telematics unit 14 is not actively searching for the mobile device98 until after the mobile device 98 has become a recognized device. Itis to be understood that the device 98 is considered to be a recognizeddevice as soon as it is paired with the telematics unit 14 for the firsttime. The telematics unit 14 adds the newly paired device 98 to a listof recognized devices (i.e., those devices that have previously beenpaired with the telematics unit 14) upon pairing for the first time, andis therefore aware that the device 98 exists. Likewise, the device 98adds the newly paired telematics unit 14 to a list of recognizeddevices, and is therefore aware that the telematics unit 14 exists.Afterwards, the telematics unit 14 (and/or the mobile device 98)automatically looks for the other device whenever the telematics unit 14(or the mobile device 98) is powered on. Thus, whenever the device 98 isinside the vehicle 12 (or within proximity of the short range wirelessconnection system 48), the telematics unit 14 detects the presence ofthe device 98 (or the device 98 detects the presence of the telematicsunit 14) and automatically connects with the device 98 (or thetelematics unit 14) upon making the detection.

Once a short range wireless connection between the telematics unit 14and the mobile device 98 has been established, the telematics unit 14scans the preferences stored in the memory 38 to determine whether ornot the connected mobile device 98 has any restrictions associatedtherewith. If, for example, the telematics unit 14 connects with Mom'smobile device, upon scanning the preferences, the telematics unit 14 mayrecognize that Mom's device is not subject to any restrictions. In thisexample, the telematics unit 14 remains connected so that the user canuse the mobile device 98 through the hands free telematics unit 14.However, for example, if the telematics unit 14 connects with thechild's device 98, upon scanning the preferences, the telematics unit 14may recognize that there is a restriction associated with the device 98.Upon recognizing that a restriction is associated with the child'sdevice 98, the telematics unit 14 will activate the method according tothe user-selected preferences.

Upon recognizing that the connected mobile device 98 has a restrictionassociated therewith, the telematics unit 14 monitors for a signal thatindicates that the device 98 is not located in/at the predefinedlocation (e.g., holder 100, port 100′) inside the cabin area 102 of thevehicle 12. It is to be understood that the telematics unit 14 continuesto monitor for the signal so long as the device 98 is connected with thetelematics unit 14. In other words, the monitoring ceases when thetelematics unit 14 recognizes that the vehicle 12 ignition is turned toan OFF state, the device 98 is turned to an OFF state or has been movedoutside of the short wireless range necessary for connecting with thetelematics unit 14, or the like.

It is to be understood that in some instance, the monitoring of thesignal by the telematics unit 14 does not begin until after the vehicle12 has been set into motion. As used herein, the vehicle 12 may be setinto motion when the ignition state of the vehicle 12 is on, atransmission system of the vehicle 12 is set into a mode that enablesthe vehicle 12 to move (e.g., the drive mode or the reverse mode), andthe vehicle 12 is physically moving. It is further to be understood thatthe monitoring for a signal stops once the vehicle 12 is stopped, isparked, or is otherwise not in motion.

Once the vehicle 12 is in motion, the telematics unit 14 recognizes thatthe device 98 is not located in/at the predefined location (e.g., holder100, port 100′) upon receiving a signal indicating the same from adetector 106 (or 106′ or 106″). Referring to FIG. 2, for example, theuser may place the device 98 in the holder 100 upon entering the vehicle12 and before the vehicle 12 is in motion. It is to be understood thatthe device 98 is fully operable upon being placed in/at the predefinedlocation (in this example, the holder 100), and thus the user can stillreceive and send voice calls, text messages, etc. So long as the device98 is inside the holder 100, no signals are sent to the telematics unit14 from the detector 106 operatively associated with the holder 100. Onthe other hand, if the user removes the device 98 from the holder 100,as shown in FIG. 3 for example, the detector 106 automatically detectsthat the device 98 has been removed from the holder 100, and sends asignal (via the bus 34) to the telematics unit 14 indicating that theremoval has occurred. The examples of the detector 106, 106′, 106″disclosed herein are capable of communicating with the telematics unit14 via the bus 34.

In another example, as shown in FIG. 4, the user may connect the device98 to a dongle 112, and then plug the dongle 112 into a port 100′, suchas a charging port. It is to be understood that the port 100′ is avehicle-dedicated port (such as, e.g., a USB port, a plug, a cigarettelighter, a power port, etc.) that is in operative communication with thetelematics unit 14 via the bus 34. In this example, the dongle 112includes a cord having a length that is short enough to prevent the user(e.g., the vehicle driver) from being able to place the mobile device 98adjacent to his/her ear while driving the vehicle 12 withoutdisconnecting the dongle 112 from the port 100′. As long as the dongle112 is connected to the port 100′, the device 98 is considered to bepositioned in the predefined location and thus no signal will be sent tothe telematics unit 14. When the user disconnects the dongle 112 fromthe port 100′, the detector 106′ associated with the port 100′automatically sends a signal (via the bus 34) to the telematics unit 14indicating that the disconnection has occurred.

In yet another example, shown in FIG. 5, the mobile device 98 maycontain the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag 117, and thepredefined location (which, in this example, may be the holder 100) maycontain the detector 106″ in the form of the RFID reader having a rangelimited to the geometry of the holder 100. When the device 98 is placedin the holder 100, a radio frequency (RF) connection is established andremains established until the device 98 is removed from the holder 100.When this occurs, the RF connection is severed, and the RFIDreader/detector 106″ automatically sends a signal to the telematics unit14 indicating that the connection has been severed.

In still another example, the mobile device 98 may contain anaccelerometer/gyroscope that transmits energy from the device 98. Thetransmitted energy represents an acceleration of the device 98. Anapplication (separate from the application 103) resident on the mobiledevice 98 may be used to determine if the energy transmitted by theaccelerometer/gyroscope exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Forinstance, an increase of about 3 m/s² to about 5 m/s² in theacceleration occurring over a predefined period of time (e.g., rangingfrom 30 seconds to 1 minute) may indicate that the device 98 may be inuse, and thus is not stowed in/at the predefined location (e.g., 100 or100′) inside the vehicle 12. The application may, for example, bedownloaded onto the mobile device 98 from a server 70 of the call center24 (e.g., via a webpage 96 of the telematics service provider) or via anapplication store associated with the mobile device 98. If theapplication determines that the energy exceeds the predeterminedthreshold value, the application may send (via the BLUETOOTH®connection) a message to the telematics unit 14 indicating that thedevice 98 is not located in the predefined location.

In some cases, the mobile device 98 itself may have a locking function;e.g., a function that, when executed (via, e.g., a button press on thedevice 98, touch screen, a verbal command, or the like), locks thedevice 98 so that the device 98 cannot be used at least to initiatevoice calls and/or text messages, to access the Internet, to checke-mails, and/or to activate one or more applications resident on themobile device 98. Likewise, the device 98 may also include an unlockingfunction to unlock the device 98 that was previously set into the lockedstate. In another example of the method disclosed herein, uponestablishing a connection with the telematics unit 14 (via, e.g., theBLUETOOTH® connection), the mobile device 98 sends a message to thetelematics unit 14 indicating that the device 98 is in a locked state.As soon as the device 98 is unlocked, the device 98 automatically sendsa message to the telematics unit 14 (via the BLUETOOTH®connection)indicating that the device 98 has been unlocked. Upon receiving themessage from the device 98, the telematics unit 14 concludes that thedevice 98 has been removed from, or is not located in the predeterminedlocation.

In an example, upon receiving the signal from the detector 106, 106′,106″ or the message sent from the mobile device 98 (e.g., in thelocked/unlocked example), the telematics unit 14 automatically generatesand sends another signal to the in-vehicle audio component 60. Aspreviously mentioned, this signal includes a command to adjust afunctionality of the audio component 60, as well as instructions for howthe functionality is to be adjusted. The instructions are formulated,e.g., upon reviewing the user preferences stored in the memory 38associated with the telematics unit 14. In an example, the functionalityof the audio component 60 is automatically adjusted in response to thecommand.

In one example, the functionality of the audio component 60 may beadjusted to mute, fade, or scramble an output then-currently beingplayed by the audio component 60. In instances where the audio component60 is muted or faded, all of the output is muted or faded except forincoming voice calls from the telematics service center (e.g., the callcenter 24), public safety organizations (e.g., the police), and/oremergency calls. Further, the method may include playing the warningmessage over the audio component 60 as previously described. Forexample, while driving the vehicle 12, the user may pick up his/hermobile device 98 from inside the holder 100 to answer an incoming call,read an incoming text message, or the like. Upon picking up the device98 (and thus removing the device 98 from the holder 100), the detector106, 106′, 106″ detects that the device 98 is no longer in the holder100 or 100′, and sends a signal (via the bus 34) to the telematics unit14 indicating the same. Upon receiving this signal, the telematics unit14 scans the user profile for any user-selected preferences associatedwith the device 98, and sends a signal to the audio component 60 (viathe bus 34) that includes instructions pertaining to the user-selectedpreferences. In an example, the instructions (based on the user-selectedpreferences) may include a command to mute the audio component 60 and,once muted, to have an audible warning message played by the component60. In another example, the instructions (based on the user-selectedpreferences) may include a command to mute the audio component 60 and,once muted, to have a text-based warning message shown on the display80. In this example, another signal may be sent from the audio component60 to the display 80 with instructions to display the text-basedmessage. In some cases, the telematics unit 14 may generate a secondsignal, which is sent directly to the display 80 with instructions todisplay the text-based message. In these cases, the audio component 60would not have to send a signal to the display 80 with instructions todo the same.

It is to be understood that when a text-based message is displayed onthe display 80, any content previously being displayed on the display 80may be completely faded out so that the warning message can be displayedon the blank screen. In another example, the font size of any text beingdisplayed at the time of receiving the command may be decreased, and thewarning message may be displayed over the decreased font. This mayenable the warning message to stand out over the other content shown onthe display 80 screen. It is also possible to adjust the contrast ratiobetween the warning message and the background palette of the display 80(e.g., the background palette may be faded slightly so that the text ofthe warning message stands out).

In another example, the instructions sent by the telematics unit 14 mayinclude a command to scramble the audio output. In this example, atext-based message may also be displayed on the display 80 when theuser-selected preferences indicate that such a message should bedisplayed. It is also contemplated that a warning message may also orotherwise be played over the scrambled output. In this case, the volumeof the scrambled output may, in some instances, be lowered so that thewarning message can be heard.

In still another example, upon muting, fading, or scrambling the outputbeing played on the audio component 60, the instructions may furtherinclude a command to activate the warning light 114. It is to beunderstood that the warning light 114 may be activated alone or incombination with a warning message displayed on the display 80 and/orplayed by the audio component 60. Furthermore, other vehicle systems maybe activated according to the instructions included in the commandsignal sent from the telematics unit 14 to the audio component 60. Forinstance, upon adjusting the functionality of the audio component 60, asignal may be sent to activate the vehicle horn, to activate interiorcabin lights, to activate the audio component 60 to play a chime oralert tone (as previously described), and/or the like.

It is to be understood that any other combination of commands may beapplied, by the audio component 60, the display 80, and/or the warninglight 114, in response to the instructions sent by the telematics unit14 according to the user-selected preferences.

In some cases, the device 98 may be connected (via, e.g., the BLUETOOTH®connection) with the telematics unit 14, and the vehicle 12 may be setinto motion before the user has a chance to physically stow the device98 in/at the predefined location (e.g., holder 100, port 100′). In thesecases, the telematics unit 14 may receive a signal from the detector106, 106″, associated with the holder 100 that indicates that the device98 is not inside the holder 100, or from the detector 106′ associatedwith the port 100′ that indicates the device 98 is not plugged into theport 100′ (via the dongle 112). In response to the signal, thetelematics unit 14 may automatically send a signal to the display 80 orto the audio component 60 to present a reminder message to the user. Thereminder message may state something similar to “Please put the devicein the holder!”, and the reminder message may be displayed or presentedto the user until he/she places the device 98 in or at the predefinedlocation (holder 100, port 100′).

In an example, the adjustment made to the functionality of the audiocomponent 60 (as well as the playing of the audible warning messagethrough the audio component 60, the displaying of the text-based warningmessage on the display 80, and/or the activating of the warning light114) continues until the mobile device 98 is, for example, placed backinto/at the predefined location (e.g., is placed back in the holder 100,as shown in FIG. 2). In the example depicted in FIG. 2, the detector 106determines that the device 98 is placed back into the holder 100 when itdetects that the presence of the device 98 has completed the circuitdefined, in part, by the mechanical switch (i.e., the circuit isclosed). When this occurs, the detector 106 sends another signal to thetelematics unit 14 indicating that the circuit is closed, and thetelematics unit 14 in turn sends another signal to the audio component60, for example, to restore the functionality of the audio component 60.The telematics unit 14 may also send another signal to the display 80 torestore the functionality of the display 80 (e.g., to remove the warningmessage, if one is displayed, and to re-display the content on thedisplay 80 that was being displayed at the time the warning message wasdisplayed) and/or to the warning light 114. This other signal mayotherwise be sent directly from the audio component 60 to the display 80and/or to the warning light 114. Once the audio component 60 (andpossibly the display 80 and/or the warning light 114) has been restored,the telematics unit 14 goes back to monitoring for another signal fromthe detector 106 indicating that the device 98 has been removed from thepredefined location (e.g., holder 100).

In another example, the functionality of the audio component 60 (and thedisplay 80 and/or the warning light 114) is restored upon detecting, viathe telematics unit 14, that the device 98 has been moved to a locationoutside a short range wireless distance from the telematics unit 14.When this occurs, the short range wireless (i.e., BLUETOOTH®) connectionpreviously established between the device 98 and the telematics unit 14ends, and the devices 14, 98 are no longer connected. This may alsooccur when the device 98 is powered off (via, e.g., physically selectingan OFF state using a function key associated with the device 98, whenthe battery-life of the device 98 has ended, etc.). Upon recognizingthat it is no longer connected with the mobile device 98, the telematicsunit 14 automatically sends a signal to the audio component 60 torestore its functionality as previously described.

The functionality of the audio component 60 (and the display 80 and/orwarning light 114) may also be restored upon unpairing the mobile device98 from the telematics unit 14. This may be accomplished, e.g., byselecting a command on the device 98 to unpair the device 98 from thetelematics unit 14. When an unpairing command is selected, the device 98no longer recognizes the telematics unit 14 and the short range wirelessconnection established between the devices 14, 98 is automaticallyterminated. The device 98 may otherwise be unpaired from the telematicsunit 14 by calling the call center 24, and requesting to unassociate thedevice 98 with the telematics unit 14, or by selecting to unassociatedthe devices 14, 98 using the touch screen disposed inside the vehicle12. It is to be understood that the unassociating of the devices 14, 98may be accomplished by an authorized person.

As previously stated, the examples of the method described hereinaboveare accomplished while the vehicle 12 is in motion. Thus, in yet anotherexample, the functionality of the audio component 60 may be restoredupon detecting that the vehicle 12 is no longer in motion. This may beaccomplished, for instance, via the telematics unit 14, by detecting (inresponse to a signal received from the vehicle transmission system) thatthe transmission system has been placed into a park mode and/or thevehicle ignition has been turned to an OFF state. The fact that thevehicle 12 is no longer in motion may also be detected by detecting thatthe vehicle speed is zero and the transmission system has been placedinto the park mode, thereby indicating that the vehicle 12 is stopped orparked.

Another example for controlling mobile communications will now bedescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 6 through 8. Referring now toFIG. 7, the example method involves establishing an RFID connectionbetween the RFID reader 119 attached to the mobile device 98 and theRFID tag 117 attached to the vehicle interior 102 at or near thepredefined location 100, as shown by reference numeral 700. The RFIDconnection may be established, for instance, by placing the mobiledevice 98 (which has the RFID reader 119 operatively attached thereto,as shown in FIG. 6) within the RFID connection range/interrogation zoneof the RFID tag 117 that has been previously disposed at or near thepredefined location 100 inside the vehicle interior 102. It is to beunderstood that the mobile device 98 may be placed anywhere inside thevehicle interior 102 so long as the RFID tag 117 (which is attached tothe vehicle interior 102 or to an object representing the predefinedlocation 100 that is physically attached to the vehicle interior 102,such as the mobile device holder) falls within the RFID connection rangeof the RFID reader 119 attached to the device 98. In other words, themobile device 98 may be placed at the predefined location 100, or in anyposition inside the vehicle 12 that is near the predefined location 100and within the RFID connection range. As mentioned above, the distanceidentifying the RFID connection range may be determined based, at leastin part, on the amount of RFID energy utilized by the reader 119 toestablish an RFID connection with the tag 117. As an illustrativeexample, if the tag 117 is placed on the center console 104 of thevehicle interior 102, and the RFID connection range is preset to beabout 25 cm, then the mobile device 98 will have to be placed near thecenter console 104 such that the distance between the mobile device 98and the tag 117 does not exceed 25 cm. It is to be understood that theRFID connection range may be adjusted (e.g., by the manufacturer,dealership, etc.) based on the positioning of the tag 117 inside thevehicle 12. For instance, if the tag 117 is placed on the glovecompartment at the passenger side of the vehicle interior 102, then theRFID connection range may be increased so that the mobile device 98 maysuitably be placed, e.g., in a mobile device holder in the centerconsole 114 so that an RFID connection between the reader 119 and thetag 117 can still be established.

Further, the RFID connection remains established until i) the connectionis broken, e.g., by moving the mobile device 98 to a position outside ofthe interrogation zone, or ii) upon placing the transmission system ofthe vehicle 12 into a park mode and/or switching the vehicle ignitionsystem into an OFF state. In the latter instance, there would be no needto control mobile communications of the device 98 (at least in partbecause the vehicle 12 is not moving), and thus method ends. However, inthe prior instance (i.e., upon breaking the RFID connection), the methodproceeds to one of several aspects for controlling mobilecommunications, and these aspects of the method will be describedindividually in some detail hereinbelow.

To reiterate from above, the RFID tag 117 contains informationidentifying the vehicle 12 within which the tag 117 is placed. Thisinformation is automatically transmitted, via the antenna associatedwith the tag 117, to the RFID reader 119 upon establishing the RFIDconnection. In turn, the reader 119 forwards this information to theprocessor 101 associated with the mobile device 98. The information maybe forwarded to the processor 101 as a signal traveling wirelessly orvia a wire if the reader 119 is separate from the mobile device 98, ormay travel via an information bus inside the mobile device 98 if thereader 119 is part of the device 98.

When the processor 101 receives the signal from the RFID reader 119 thatan RFID connection has been established, the processor 101 initiates theapplication 103 resident on the device 98 that is responsible forcontrolling mobile communications of the device 98 throughout the lifeof the presently-established RFID connection. This step is shown at 702in FIG. 7. The application 103 includes computer readable code forperforming a number of functions associated with controlling the mobilecommunications of the device 98. Although the application 103 has beeninitiated upon establishing the RFID connection, in one example, theactual controlling of mobile communications of the device 98 via theapplication 103 may occur in response to a trigger. The trigger mayinclude detecting that the vehicle 12 is physically in motion, or thatthe vehicle 12 has reached a predefined vehicle speed. In an example,the processor 101 utilizes the signal indicating that an RFID connectionhas been established (which was received from the reader 119, asmentioned above) as a trigger to automatically establish a short rangewireless connection with the telematics unit 14 of the vehicle 12, asshown at 704 in FIG. 7. This may be accomplished, for instance, bysetting the mobile device 98 to a short range wireless connection mode,where the device 98 automatically looks for the telematics unit 14(which was previously paired with the device 98). When the device 98 iswithin short range wireless connection range with the telematics unit 14(which may occur immediately upon setting the device 98 into the shortrange wireless connection mode since the device 98 is located inside thevehicle interior 102 and thus within short range wireless connectionrange of the telematics unit 14), the telematics unit 14 detects thepresence of the mobile device 98 (or the device 98 detects the presenceof the telematics unit 14) and automatically connects with the device 98(or the telematics unit 14) upon making the detection. Further detailsof how the short range wireless connection may be established are setforth above in conjunction with the example method described inconjunction with FIGS. 1-5.

Via the short range wireless connection, the mobile device 98 sends acommand to the telematics unit 14 to initiate monitoring of the vehiclespeed, as shown at 706 in FIG. 7. In turn, the telematics unit 14 sendsa request to the processor associated with the vehicle speed sensor forinformation pertaining to the then-current speed of the vehicle 12. Inresponse to the request, the processor associated with the speed sensorobtains speed signals directly from the speed sensor, and transmitsthose signals to the processor 36 of the telematics unit 14 via the bus34. The processor 36 then utilizes the speed signals to determine theinstantaneous speed of the vehicle 12. If the processor 36 determinesthat the instantaneous speed of the vehicle 12 is not greater than zeroor has not reached the predefined vehicle speed, then the processor 36sends another request to the processor associated with the speed sensorfor updated vehicle speed data. This process may continue until theprocessor 36 has detected that the vehicle speed is greater than zero,or has reached the predefined vehicle speed. When this occurs, thetelematics unit 14 sends a data message back to the mobile device 98 viathe short range wireless connection, which includes a command toactivate the portion of the application 103 responsible for controllingmobile communications, as shown at step 708 in FIG. 7.

Referring back to step 704, in another example, the portion of theapplication 103 responsible for controlling mobile communications may beactivated upon detecting, via the telematics unit 14, that the ignitionsystem of the vehicle 12 is in an ON state, and the transmission systemof the vehicle 12 has been placed into any mode other than the park mode(e.g., a drive mode, a reverse mode, etc.). In this instance, theignition system ON state and the transmission mode are the triggers forcontrolling mobile communications. Upon detecting that the ignitionsystem is in an ON state and the transmission mode has been moved out ofpark mode at step 704, the telematics unit 14 sends a data message backto the mobile device 98 via the short range wireless connection toactivate the portion of the application 103 responsible for controllingmobile communications at step 708.

In yet another example, the portion of the application 103 responsiblefor controlling mobile communications is activated as soon as theapplication 103 is initiated at step 702. Thus, in this example, mobilecommunications may be controlled without having to rely on a triggerfrom one or more vehicle systems. In other words, mobile communicationsmay be controlled without having to use the telematics unit 14.

At step 710, mobile communications of the mobile device 98 may becontrolled via the application 103 resident on the mobile device 98.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the mobile communications of the mobile device98 are controlled, via the application 103 resident on the device 98,based on the user-selected preferences set forth in the user profile.This is shown at step 800 in FIG. 8. Upon activating the portion of theapplication 103 responsible for controlling mobile communications, theprocessor 101 refers to the user profile previously stored in a memory105 associated with the device 98. However, in instances where a userprofile has not been previously stored, the user profile may be obtainedby the device 98 from another source, such as from the telematics unit14, the call center 24, the remotely accessible page 96, and/or someother facility including the user profile stored in a database at thatfacility. In some cases, the mobile device 98 may retrieve the userprofile as soon as the processor 101 receives the signal from the RFIDreader 119 indicating that the RFID connection has been established withthe RFID tag 117. In other cases, the mobile device 98 may retrieve theuser profile as soon as the portion of the application 103 responsiblefor controlling mobile communications has been activated.

In an example, via the short range wireless connection establishedbetween the mobile device 98 and the telematics unit 14, the mobiledevice 98 (via the application 103 resident thereon) may request a copyof the user profile associated with the owner of the vehicle 12 from thetelematics unit 14. In this example, the request may contain the vehicleidentification information read from the RFID tag 117, and the processor36 of the telematics unit 14 may utilize the information to identify theowner of the vehicle 12 and the user profile stored in the memory 38 ofthe telematics unit 14. Then, the telematics unit 14 will send either acopy of the entire user profile or a copy of the relevant portion(s) ofthe user profile back to the mobile device 98 using the short rangewireless connection. The mobile device 98 may then utilize theuser-selected preferences or services contained in the received userprofile to control mobile communications, as previously mentioned.

In instances where the telematics unit 14 does not have a copy of theuser profile stored in the memory 38 thereof, the telematics unit 14 mayautomatically establish a data connection (e.g., a packet data session)with the call center 24 upon receiving the request from the mobiledevice 98. This data connection may include packet data including arequest for a copy of the user profile from the call center 24. Therequest may be received by the data aggregator 75, which may retrieve acopy of the user profile from the appropriate database 72 and transmitit (in the form, e.g., of packet data) back to the telematics unit 14.The telematics unit 14 may forward the received copy of the user profileto the mobile device 98, or store a copy of the user profile in thememory 38 before sending another copy of the user profile to the mobiledevice 98.

In another aspect of this example method, the mobile device 98 mayautomatically establish an Internet connection so that the device 98 canretrieve and download a copy of the user profile directly from theuser's personal webpage 97. It is to be understood that the mobiledevice 98 may be authorized to retrieve such information from thewebpage 97, e.g., upon the webpage 97 recognizing the device's 98Internet protocol (IP) address. Once the device 98 has downloaded a copyof the user profile from the webpage 97, the user profile may be storedin the memory 105 associated with the device 98. It is to be understoodthat the mobile device 98 may also be able to obtain a copy of the userprofile from the webpage 97 indirectly, such as through the telematicsunit 14. In this case, the mobile device 98 may establish a short rangewireless connection with the telematics unit 14, and the telematics unit14 may then establish an Internet connection so that the telematics unit14 can retrieve and download a copy of the user profile from the webpage97. The telematics unit 14 may then forward a copy of the user profileretrieved from the webpage 97 to the mobile device 98 during the shortrange wireless connection.

As previously mentioned, the mobile device 98 may, in some instances,already have a copy of the user profile stored in a memory 105associated therewith (which, e.g., may have been previously retrieved bythe device 98, downloaded to the device 98 from the telematics callcenter 24 upon setting up the user's account or subscription, etc.). Inthese instances, the device 98 does not have to establish a short rangewireless connection with the telematics unit 14 upon receiving thesignal from the RFID reader 119 for the purposes of obtaining the userprofile. However, the device 98 may be configured to establish the shortrange wireless connection with the telematics unit 14 upon receiving thesignal in order to request updates for the user profile that waspreviously stored in the device 98. In other cases, an updated copy ofthe user profile may be automatically downloaded to the mobile device 98periodically (e.g., every week, every month, etc.), each time the userprofile is updated, or the like, rather than on request by the device 98as soon as an RFID connection has been established.

As soon as the mobile device 98 receives a copy of the user profile(unless the device 98 already has a copy of the user profile when theRFID connection has been established), the processor 101 of the mobiledevice 98 automatically refers to the user profile to obtain informationpertaining to user-selected preferences and/or user-selected servicesfor controlling mobile communications of the device 98. In one aspect ofthe instant example of the method, the information from the user profilemay be used, by the processor 101 while executing the application 103resident thereon, to determine i) which functionality of the device 98should be adjusted and ii) how the functionality is to be adjusted. Asused herein, a “functionality” of the mobile device 98 that may beadjusted refers to an element or attribute of the mobile device 98 thatis configured to perform a particular function. Examples offunctionalities that are adjustable include text messaging capabilities,voice calling capabilities, game playing capabilities, electronicmailing (or e-mail) capabilities, and/or the like. In some cases, one ormore of these functionalities may include sub-functionalities. Forexample, the text messaging capabilities may include a notificationfunction of an incoming text message, a text message receiving function,a text message creation function, and/or the like. One or more of thefunctionalities/sub-functionalities may be disabled (and thenre-enabled) by the application 103 internal to (stored on) the mobiledevice 98 upon detecting, via the mobile device 98, that the device 98is no longer located in the predefined location 100.

Further, the application 103, when executed by the processor 101 of thedevice 98, includes machine readable instruction (e.g., softwareroutines/program code embodied on non-transitory media) that apply theadjusting/re-adjusting of the functionality/sub-functionality of themobile device 98. In an example, upon receiving the information readfrom the RFID tag 117, the processor 101 activates the application 103resident on the device 98, which initiates a program code associatedwith the application 103 that is responsible for adjusting theuser-selected functionality of the device 98. Once initiated, theprocessor 101 (via the application 103) actually adjusts thefunctionality of the device 98 using other suitable software programsand/or routines. This step is shown at 802 in FIG. 8. If, for example,the functionality is a message notification function of the user'smobile device 98, the processor 101 may restrict the messagenotification function so that the user will not be notified (via, e.g.,a ring tone or a vibration of the device 98) of an incoming textmessage. Thus, the disabling of the message notification functionincludes the disabling of a ring mode or vibration mode of the user'sdevice 98 whenever a new text message is received. In this example, themessage notification function is restricted so long as the device 98 isin an adjusted functionality (in this case, disabled) operational mode.As such, incoming messages will be received by the mobile device 98,however the user will not know that the messages have been receiveduntil the user checks the device 98 for new messages.

In another example, the adjusting of the functionality of the mobiledevice 98 may include incorporating additional functions/features to theoperational mode of the device 98. This may be accomplished in additionto, or instead of restricting a pre-existing function/feature. Forinstance, the user profile may require an audible notification of anyincoming text messages. This may be accomplished, e.g., by automaticallyestablishing a short range wireless connection with the telematics unit14 (if one has not yet been established already). This connectionenables the mobile device 98 to link to various in-vehicle componentsthat are in communication with the telematics unit 14 via the bus 34.Thus, upon receiving a text message, the user may be notified of thesame, for instance, through the in-vehicle audio component 60. Morespecifically, when an incoming text message is received by the mobiledevice 98, the message (in its text form) may be transmitted from thedevice 98 to the telematics unit 14 and may ultimately be recited to theuser in a hand-free mode. Utilizing a text-to-speech program that isexecutable by the processor 36 of the telematics unit 14, the textcontent of the message is converted into an audible format. In responseto a prompt, the user may elect to listen to the audible form of themessage, which is recited to the user through the speaker(s) 30, 30′. Inresponse to another prompt, the user may elect to respond to themessage. If the user elects to respond, the user may recite an audiblereply into the microphone 28, which is converted into text via aspeech-to-text program also executable by the processor 36. The textform of the reply is then transmitted from the telematics unit 14 to themobile device 98, which is forwarded from the device 98 to the devicethat sent the original message.

In still other examples, adjusting the functionality of the device 98may involve completely deactivating the functionality while the device98 is in the adjusted operational mode. In these instances, bothincoming and outgoing messages are prohibited, and thus no messages areactually transmitted to or from the device 98. When this type ofadjustment to the device 98 is selected, a default message orpre-selected message may be transmitted in response to any messages thatare attempting to be sent to the mobile device 98. For example, if allof the user's text messaging features are completely deactivated (i.e.,the user cannot send or even receive messages), when another deviceattempts to transmit a text message to the user's device 98, the user'sdevice 98 will block the message and reply with a text message saying“the customer you are trying to reach is not accepting messages at thistime”, “the user's device is currently unavailable”, or the like.

In another aspect of the example method, upon establishing the RFIDconnection, the mobile device 98 automatically establishes a short rangewireless connection with the telematics unit 14 so that the telematicsunit 14 can control certain vehicle systems (or operations), step 804 inFIG. 8. When this occurs, the vehicle 12 is said to be placed into apreset operational mode. For instance, when the short range wirelessconnection is established, the telematics unit 14 may be able toidentify the driver of the vehicle 12 utilizing identificationinformation of the mobile device 98 by requesting such information fromthe device 98. This may be accomplished by comparing the mobile dialingnumber (MDN) of the device 98 with the user profile, which may contain alist of devices (identified by their respective MDNs) whose owners havebeen previously designated (e.g., by the subscriber, the owner of thevehicle 12, or other authorized person to make such designation) asbeing subject to a preset operational mode of the vehicle 12. Forexample, upon identifying the user of the vehicle 12 and/or recognizingthe device 98, the telematics unit 14 (via a software program executableby the processor 36) may activate preset vehicle system modificationsand/or vehicle component modifications which are set forth in the userprofile as user-selected preferences. Examples of vehicle systemmodifications include a preset maximum vehicle speed, a preset maximumaudio system volume, restricted radio stations, restricted audio systemfunctions, preset geographic travel regions, occupant detection viaseatbelt closure, and/or the like. If, for instance, the vehicle speedis restricted, upon activating the preset operational mode of thevehicle 12, then the vehicle 12 cannot exceed the preset maximum vehiclespeed set forth in the user profile regardless of how much pressure thedriver (i.e., the user) applies to the gas pedal. In another instance,if the radio stations are limited, then the user cannot access thoserestricted stations via the audio component 60. In this case, the usermay set the radio portion of the audio component 60 to the desired butrestricted radio station, but no sound will play through the speaker(s)30, 30′.

It is to be understood that, as used herein, a “vehicle system” refersto any of the equipment/components or systems of the vehicle 12identified above in conjunction with FIG. 1 that are in operativecommunication with the telematics unit 14. Thus, upon activating thepreset operational mode, the telematics unit 14 can send signals to theappropriate equipment/components or systems of the vehicle 12 via thebus 34.

In some cases, when the preset operational mode of the vehicle 12 hasbeen activated, an audible, visual, or tactile notice may be provided tothe user inside the vehicle 12 that indicates that the operational modehas been activated. For instance, the notice may be played by the audiocomponent 60 over the speaker(s) 30, 30′, shown as a text message oricon on the display 80, manifested by vibrating the driver's seat orsteering wheel, or the like. In some cases, the warning light 114 oranother illumination device inside the vehicle 12 (e.g., an overheadlight, an icon on the vehicle 12 dashboard, etc.) may be activated tonotify the driver that the preset operational mode has been activated.

In instances where the notice is played via the audio component 60 orshown on the display 80, the notice may state something similar to “thevehicle is now operating in a preset operational mode”, or the like. Insome cases, the notice may also indicate what vehicle system(s) arebeing limited or controlled while the vehicle 12 is in the presetoperational mode.

It is to be understood that the preset operational mode may beoverridden by an authorized person by contacting the call center 24 andrequesting a service to then-currently deactivate the operational modesetting. The call center 24, in response, will send a data message tothe telematics unit 14 with instructions to restore the vehicle systemsthat were limited due to the preset operational mode. The deactivationof the preset operational mode may be accomplished for a single use(e.g., during the time at which the RFID connection is then-currentlyestablished) or permanently until the authorized person requests thatthe preset operation mode be reinstated.

Upon establishing the RFID connection between the RFID reader 119attached to the device 98 and the tag 117 attached to the vehicle 12,the processor 101 may command the device 98 to generate a data messagethat contains information regarding the identity of the vehicle driverand a note that the vehicle 12 is then-currently in operation. This datamessage may be sent, e.g., as a text message, packet data, etc. to anoutside entity identified from the user profile, as shown at step 806 inFIG. 8. For instance, the profile may indicate that all messagesgenerated should be sent to the mobile device (see, e.g., 120 in FIG. 9)of the vehicle driver's father by associating the MDN of the driver'sdevice 98 to that of the father's device 120. This data message may beused to apprise the driver's father that the vehicle 12 is beingoperated by the owner of the device 98 that is subject to beingcontrolled by the instant example method.

It is contemplated herein to allow the outside entity to further controlmobile communications of the user's mobile device 98 upon receiving thedata message. So long as the outside entity is an authorizedperson/entity, the outside entity may, for example, initiate a voice ordata connection with the call center 24, and once authorized, requestthat additional functionalities of the mobile device 98 be controlled.In response, the call center 24 may update the user profile and transmitthe updated profile to the device 98 during a packet data session withthe mobile device 98. The device 98 stores the updated profile in thememory 105 thereof, and may automatically apply the updated portions ofthe profile while then-currently controlling the device 98.

Examples of methods that may be used to transmit the data message to theoutside entity will now be described hereinbelow in conjunction withFIG. 9. In one example, the outside entity may be the call center 24,and the data message may be communicated directly from the mobile device98 to the call center 24 at step 900. This may be accomplished byinitiating a data connection with the call center 24, and forwarding themessage as packetized data to the call center 24. The message may bereceived and reviewed by an advisor 62, 62′, the data aggregator 75,and/or the processor 84 at the call center 24.

In another example, the outside entity may be a facility 121 other thanthe call center 24 (such as a police station, a fire station, etc.) ormay be the mobile device 120 of a family member or friend of the driver.In these examples, the device 98 may send the data message directly tothe other facility 120 or 121 in human-readable form (e.g., as a textmessage, e-mail message, etc.) at step 902, or the call center 24 mayforward the message received from the mobile device 98 to the otherfacility 120 or 121 using the communications module 86 at step 904. Ininstances where the data message is packetized, the call center 24, viathe data aggregator 75 running appropriate programs, re-formats thepacketized information so that the information is viewable or otherwiseusable by the other facility 120 or 121.

In some cases, the data aggregator 75 at the call center 24 mayautomatically upload the data message as a post onto the host server 94of the user's personal webpage 97. In other words, the call center 24posts the information onto the user's webpage 97 at step 906. Forinstance, upon receiving the packetized message, the data aggregator 75identifies the account associated with the mobile device 98 from whichthe message was sent. This may be accomplished by identifying the device98 initiating the packet data session (e.g., via its MDN). Thereafter,the data aggregator 75 un-packetizes the message, and re-formats themessage in the form of a post that may be uploaded onto the host server94 of the user's webpage 97. The uploaded post may then be viewable byfriends of the user's online networking group (i.e., those who have beenauthorized to access and view the user's webpage 97). Further, one ormore of the user's friends may reply to the post by posting theirresponses, and in some instances a blog may be generated by the posts.

The data message may be posted, by the call center 24, in the form of atext post. Thus, in an example, the packetized information received bythe data aggregator 75 is un-packetized, and re-formatted (via, e.g.,software programs run by the data aggregator 75 or the processor 84 atthe call center 24) so that the message is in a human-readable form. Inanother example, the information may be presented on the user's webpage97 as an audio post. In this example, the message is un-packetized,re-formatted into text, and then converted from text to speech using atext-to-speech program run by the data aggregator 75 or the processor84. The audio post may then be posted on the webpage 97 to be viewed(listened to) by the user's friends.

In some cases, the user may designate preferences, which are stored inhis/her profile at the call center 24, and these preferences may includethe preferred presentation of the text post and/or the audio post to beposted onto the user's webpage 97. These preferences may be established,by the user, by accessing a remotely accessible webpage 96 of the callcenter 24, and after submitting an appropriate login and password toaccess his/her account, selecting or inputting the user's preferencesinto the webpage 96. The preferences may also be established, by theuser, by calling the call center 24, and after authenticating the userif necessary, the user may recite his/her preferences to an advisor 62,62′ during the voice call. The advisor 62, 62′, who has access to theuser's account, stores the user's preferences in the user profile duringthe call.

In yet another example shown in FIG. 9, the data message generated bythe mobile device 98 may be transmitted to the telematics unit 14 usingthe short range wireless connection established between the devices 14,98 at step 908. The telematics unit 14 may then forward the message tothe outside entity (such as to other facility 121 or the other themobile device 120 at step 910, to the call center 24 at step 912, etc.).In instances where the outside entity is the call center 24, this may beaccomplished by initiating a vehicle data upload event with the callcenter 24 using a vehicle data upload (VDU) unit of the telematics unit14, and transmitting the message as packetized data to the call center24.

In further examples, the telematics unit 14 may also be utilized toupload the data message onto the host server 94 of the user's webpage 97as a post, at shown at step 914 and/or to send the message to the mobiledevice 120 of a family member or friend of the driver (see again step910). In either of these instances, the telematics unit 14 may re-formatthe message so that the message is in a human-readable form beforeuploading the message as a post and/or sending the message to the mobiledevice 120 of another person. Re-formatting may be accomplishedutilizing appropriate software programs that are executable by theprocessor 36 of the telematics unit 14.

In yet a further example, the mobile device 98 may be configured toestablish an Internet connection, and through this Internet connection,the mobile device 98 may be able to upload the data message directedonto the host server 94 of the user's webpage 97. This is shown at step916 in FIG. 9.

In some cases, after the RFID connection has been established, themobile device 98 may be configured to enter into a sleep mode after apredetermined amount of time of non-use. This sleep mode is basically alow power mode of the device 98, where certain, then-currently un-neededaspects of the device 98 (e.g., an LED light for the display screen, aGPS receiver, WiFi, BLUETOOTH®, etc.) are switched into a low-powerconsumption state. The sleep mode may be a user-selected mode includedas a preference in the user profile. The user's profile may also includeas a preference the predetermined amount of time of non-use of thedevice 98 in order to activate the sleep mode. The mobile device 98 maybe woken up in response to a trigger, such as by physically moving thedevice (as detected, e.g., by an accelerometer disposed in the device98) and/or attempting to use one or more functions associated with thedevice 98 (e.g., a button press).

As previously mentioned, the RFID connection established between theRFID reader 119 and the RFID tag 117 may be broken upon moving thedevice 98 (which has the reader 119 attached thereto) to a locationinside or outside of the vehicle 12 so that the tag 117 falls outside ofthe RFID connection range. This may occur, for instance, whenever thedevice 98 is physically removed from the predefined location 100 insidethe vehicle interior 102. As soon as the RFID connection is broken, theprocessor 101 of the device 98 receives a signal from the RFID reader119 indicating that the RFID connection is broken. Upon receipt of thissignal, the processor 101 recognizes that the mobile device 98 is nolonger located at the predefined location 100. As soon as thisrecognition is made, the processor 101 automatically generates anotherdata message indicating that the device 98 is no longer located in thepredefined location 100. Transmission of the message may be accomplishedvia any of the methods previously described in conjunction to the datamessage sent to the outside entity when the RFID connection wasestablished. It is believed that the transmission of the information tothe outside entity when the RFID connection is broken may deter thevehicle driver (i.e., the owner/possessor of the mobile device 98) fromusing the device 98 while operating the vehicle 12.

Referring back to FIG. 8, in an example, upon detecting that the RFIDconnection is broken at step 808, the mobile device 98 establishesanother short range wireless connection with the telematics unit 14(unless one is already established), and transmits a request to thetelematics unit 14 to activate another preset operational mode of thevehicle 12 at step 810. The other preset operational mode may be definedin the user profile stored in the memory 38 of the telematics unit 14,and may include further restrictions on various vehicle systems and/orcomponents while the device 98 is not located in the predefined location100. For instance, the preset operational mode for when the RFIDconnection is broken may include lowering the maximum allowable vehiclespeed by at least 5 mph, 10 mph, etc., completely restricting any use ofthe in-vehicle radio, automatically illuminating vehicle headlights andtail lights, etc. It is to be understood that this preset operationalmode will switch back to the previous preset operation mode as soon asthe telematics unit 14 receives another message from the device 98 thatanother RFID connection has been established between the RFID reader 119of the device 98 and the RFID tag 117 attached to the vehicle interior102.

Additionally, upon detecting that the RFID connection is broken, theprocessor 101 of the device 98 may activate another portion of theapplication 103 responsible for adjusting a functionality of the device98 at step 812. The functionality that is adjusted may be the samefunctionality that was previously adjusted upon establishing the RFIDconnection, but with further adjustments. For instance, if the textmessage creation function was restricted upon establishing an RFIDconnection so that texts may only be created verbally through thetelematics unit 14, then upon breaking the RFID connection, the textmessage creation function may be completely restricted. In anotherexample, additional functions of the mobile device 98 may be restrictedupon breaking the RFID connection. For instance, if only the textmessage creation function was restricted upon establishing the RFIDconnection, then upon breaking the RFID connection, the text messagecreation function and the text message receiving function may both berestricted.

It is to be understood that the adjustments to the functionality of themobile device 98 and/or the activation of the other preset operationalmode of the vehicle 12 upon breaking the RFID connection occurs so longas the vehicle 12 is still in motion, or is still at or above thepredefined vehicle speed. In instances where the vehicle speed is zeroor the vehicle 12 has fallen below the predefined vehicle speed, thenthe processor 101 does not activate the portion of the application 103responsible for controlling mobile communications. Further, the entireapplication 103 is de-activated as soon as the device 98 receives asignal from the telematics unit 14 that the vehicle transmission systemhas been placed into a park mode, and/or if the vehicle ignition systemis turned into an OFF state.

It is further to be understood that the instant example method may beconfigured to send data messages each time an RFID connection isestablished and each time the RFID connection is broken, and thissetting may be a default setting. In some cases, the data messages maybe sent when the RFID connection is broken alone, and this setting maybe selected by the user and stored in the user profile.

It is further to be understood that, as used herein, the singular formsof the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unlessthe content clearly indicates otherwise, both in the specification andthe claims.

Additionally, the term “any of” when used, for example, in conjunctionwith alternative method steps, as recited herein, refers to instanceseach step recited is performed alone, or in combination with one or moreof the other steps recited. As one example, when the audio system ismuted, the method may further include i) playing an audible warningmessage over the audio system 60, ii) displaying a text-based warningmessage on the display 80, iii) activating the warning light 114, iv)playing an audible warning message over the audio system 60 anddisplaying a text-based warning message on the display 80, v) playing anaudible warning message over the audio system 60 and activating thewarning light 114, vi) displaying a text-based message on the display 80and activating the warning light 114, or vii) playing an audible warningmessage over the audio system 60, displaying a text-based message on thedisplay 80 and activating the warning light 114.

While several examples have been described in detail, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed examples may bemodified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considerednon-limiting.

1. A method for controlling mobile communications, comprising: establishing an RFID connection between i) an RFID tag operatively disposed on or at a predefined location inside a cabin area of a vehicle and ii) an RFID reader operatively attached to a mobile communications device; upon braking the RFID connection, via an application resident on the mobile communications device, recognizing that the mobile communications device is no longer located at the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle; and automatically sending a message to an entity outside of the vehicle, the message indicating that the mobile communications device is no longer located at the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle.
 2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the RFID tag includes identification information of the vehicle, and upon establishing the RFID connection, the method further comprises automatically adjusting a functionality of the mobile communications device via the application resident on the mobile communications device.
 3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein prior to automatically adjusting the functionality of the mobile communications device, the method further comprises: establishing a data connection between the mobile communications device and a facility; during the data connection, requesting a profile of a vehicle user utilizing the vehicle identification information; and downloading the profile to the mobile communications device during the data connection; wherein the profile includes information pertaining to the adjusting of the functionality of the mobile communications device.
 4. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein prior to automatically adjusting the functionality of the mobile communications device, the method further comprises: establishing a connection between the mobile communications device and the Internet; and while connected to the Internet, utilizing the identification information of the vehicle user to retrieve a profile of a vehicle owner from a remotely accessible page.
 5. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein prior to establishing the RFID connection, the method further comprises: downloading a profile of a vehicle user from any of an outside facility or a remotely accessible page to the mobile communications device; and utilizing the downloaded profile to adjust the functionality of the mobile communications device upon establishing the RFID connection.
 6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the RFID tag includes identification information of the vehicle, and upon establishing the RFID connection, the method further comprises: establishing a short range wireless connection with a telematics unit operatively disposed in the vehicle; and downloading a profile of a vehicle user to the mobile communications device from one of i) the telematics unit, or ii) a telematics call center through the telematics unit; and via the application resident on the mobile communications device, utilizing the downloaded profile to adjust the functionality of the mobile communications device.
 7. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein upon one of establishing or breaking the RFID connection, the method further comprises: notifying the telematics unit that the mobile communications device is no longer located in the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle; and in response to the notifying, via the telematics unit, activating a preset operational mode of the vehicle.
 8. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising: identifying an operator of the vehicle upon establishing the short range wireless connection between the telematics unit and the mobile communications device; and selecting the preset operational mode of the vehicle based on the identification of the vehicle operator.
 9. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the preset operational mode of the vehicle includes any of a modification to an in-vehicle component or a vehicle system.
 10. The method as defined in claim 6 wherein upon establishing the short range wireless connection, the method further comprises: via the telematics unit, monitoring a then-current vehicle speed; and in response to a trigger, sending a data message from the telematics unit to the mobile device, the data message including a command to activate the adjusting of the functionality of the mobile communications device.
 11. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein upon establishing the RFID connection, the method further comprises sending an other message to the outside entity, the other message indicating that the mobile communications device is located at the predefined location inside the cabin area of the vehicle.
 12. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein upon establishing the RFID connection after a predetermined amount of time, the method further comprises enabling the mobile communications device to enter into a sleep mode.
 13. The method as defined in claim 12, further comprising waking up the mobile communications device in response to a trigger.
 14. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the predefined location includes a mobile device holder operatively disposed inside the cabin area of the vehicle, and wherein the RFID tag is operatively attached to the holder.
 15. A system for controlling mobile communications, comprising: a mobile communications device to receive and send messages, the mobile communications device being associated with an operator of a mobile vehicle; an RFID reader operatively attached to the mobile communications device; a location previously identified inside a cabin area of a vehicle, the location to receive the mobile communications device; an RFID tag operatively attached to the location, the RFID tag to establish an RFID connection with the RFID reader when the mobile communications device is within an RFID reading range with the RFID tag; an application resident on the mobile communications device to recognize that the mobile communications device is no longer located in the location when the RFID connection is broken; and an outside entity including a respective communications device to receive a message from the mobile communications device when the RFID connection is broken.
 16. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the mobile communications device includes a functionality that is adjustable via the application resident on the mobile communications device when the RFID connection is established.
 17. The system as defined in claim 16, further comprising any of an outside facility or a remotely accessible page from which a profile of a vehicle user may be retrieved, by the mobile communications device, upon establishing the RFID connection.
 18. The system as defined in claim 15, further comprising: a telematics unit operatively disposed in the vehicle; a short range wireless communications unit associated with the telematics unit and utilized, by the telematics unit, to establish a short range wireless connection with the mobile communications device; and a profile containing any of user-selected preferences or services stored in the telematics unit, the profile being downloaded to the mobile communications device upon establishing the short range wireless connection.
 19. The system as defined in claim 18, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor in selective and operative communication with the telematics unit, the vehicle speed sensor to generate vehicle speed data to be utilized by the telematics unit to determine when the vehicle has reached a predefined vehicle speed, wherein the telematics unit to send a data message to the mobile communications device that includes a command to activate an adjustment to the functionality of the mobile communications device upon making a determination that the vehicle has reached the predefined vehicle speed.
 20. The system as defined in claim 19 wherein the telematics unit includes a processor including computer readable code encoded on a computer readable medium for activating a preset operational mode of the vehicle in response to receiving a notification, from the mobile communications device utilizing the short range wireless connection, that the RFID connection has been established.
 21. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the application resident on the mobile communications device includes: computer readable code for enabling the mobile communications device to enter into a sleep mode after a predetermined amount of time has passed since establishing the RFID connection; and computer readable code for enabling the mobile communications device to wake up in response to a trigger.
 22. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the location is a mobile communications device holder operatively disposed inside the cabin area of the vehicle, and wherein the RFID tag is operatively attached to the holder. 